Trump promises oil companies ‘total safety’ in Venezuela as he urges them to invest billions

Country is uninvestable' today, president told, but CEOs signal they are ready to spend with support

Donald Trump promised oil giants total safety, total security" in Venezuela in an effort to persuade them to invest $100bn in the country's infrastructure after US forces toppled Nicolas Maduro from power.

At a roundtable press conference at the White House on Friday afternoon with more than a dozen oil executives, including leaders from Chevron, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhilips, the US president doubled down on claims that Maduro's arrest presents American oil companies with an unprecedented opportunity for extraction.