AP Business SummaryBrief at 7:03 p.m. EST
This story raises questions about governance, accountability, and American values.
The AP frames Trump’s idea to seize and revive Venezuela’s oil industry as a mostly technical problem, a matter of hurdles and logistics. That misses the bigger question: who has the authority, and what message does that send in a world already skeptical of American power used without clear limits? Conservatives care about **national security**, but also **rule of law**.
New Republican Times Editorial Board
Trump's plan to seize and revitalize Venezuela's oil industry faces major hurdles
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New Republican Times Editorial Board
The AP frames Trump’s idea to seize and revive Venezuela’s oil industry as a mostly technical problem, a matter of hurdles and logistics. That misses the bigger question: who has the authority, and what message does that send in a world already skeptical of American power used without clear limits?
Conservatives care about national security, but also rule of law. Venezuela is a hostile, broken petro-state, yet “seizing” assets is not the same as building leverage. Without Congress, allies, and a coherent end state, it risks looking like improvisation while inviting retaliation against U.S. companies and citizens.
Energy strength should start at home. Energy independence, public trust, and institutional stability matter more than dramatic gestures abroad. The principle at stake is simple: American power is most effective when it is lawful, disciplined, and clearly tied to U.S. interests.
Commentary written with AI assistance by the New Republican Times Editorial Board.