Oil giant Chevron is in discussions with the Trump administration about the company’s federal license to produce oil in Venezuela after Secretary of State Marco Rubio questioned the operation, CEO and Chair Mike Wirth said Wednesday.
Wirth, speaking on Bloomberg TV, said the talks with the administration are happening after Rubio said at his Senate nomination hearing last month the license should be “re-explored” after the Biden administration allowed imports of Venezuelan crude in exchange for free elections in country. Observers have said Venezuela’s presidential election last year was rife with fraud.
“We’re in contact with the current administration,” Wirth said in the interview in response to a question about Rubio’s criticisms. “We work closely with the government to understand their objectives.”
Neither a Chevron spokesperson nor a State Department official immediately replied to questions.
