Trump says he supports Venezuela remaining in OPEC

President Trump said in an interview Wednesday that he supports Venezuela staying in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). 

“Well, I think it’s better for them if they do it,” Trump told Reuters when asked if he backed the South American country staying in OPEC. 

“I don’t know that it’s better for us … but they are a member of OPEC, and we haven’t discussed that with them at all,” he told the outlet. 

When asked by Reuters whether Venezuela would follow OPEC production limits, Trump said he was not concerned about the organization. 

“I don’t have to worry about it right now, because, you know, I have nothing to do with OPEC,” the president said. 

Trump has said the U.S. is controlling Venezuela’s rich oil reserves following the capture of the country’s former President Nicolás Maduro earlier this month. Venezuela was one of the first five countries to form OPEC along with Iran, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Iraq. 

A Trump administration official confirmed to The Hill on Wednesday that the administration has completed its first Venezuelan oil sale, valued at $500 million.