Trump Throws Out Press from Secret Meeting with Oil Executives

Summary

The MeidasTouch Podcast

Episode: Trump Throws Out Press from Secret Meeting with Oil Executives
Date: January 10, 2026
Hosts: Ben, Brett, and Jordy Meiselas

---

Overview

In this episode, the Meiselas brothers break down a chaotic White House meeting where former President Donald Trump held a contentious discussion with major oil executives about post-invasion Venezuelan oil interests. The brothers focus on Trump’s abrupt expulsion of the press, his bizarre banter, and the political ramifications of the secretive negotiations. Throughout, the brothers maintain their signature irreverent, democracy-defending tone, highlighting Trump's often surreal behavior and offering pointed analysis of the broader consequences.

---

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Expulsion of the Press and Secretive Dealings (00:00–01:14)

• Trump abruptly asked the press to leave during a high-stakes meeting with oil executives, framing the subsequent discussion as a secret negotiation about dividing up Venezuela’s oil after a U.S. invasion.
• Quote [01:14, Donald Trump]:
  "So if you don't mind, I'll ask the press to leave and we will see what kind of a deal we're going to make with these geniuses. And I think you're going to come out very good. Thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you."

2. The "Golden Ballroom" Shakedown (01:25–02:15)

• Trump uses the meeting to point out the future location of a lavish "Golden Ballroom" he plans to build, hinting that oil executives should fund it if they want access to Venezuela’s resources.
• He referred to oil executives by their company names rather than their real names (e.g., "Mr. Chevron," "Mr. Exxon").

3. Awkwardness and Lack of Preparation (02:15–03:43)

• Trump’s lack of familiarity with the executives is obvious as he relies on corporate titles; he also reads out loud private notes passed to him by Senator Marco Rubio.
• Memorable Moment [03:25, Donald Trump]:
  "It's been written. All right, thank you. You'll make it back one way or the other. You're all going to do very well, I think. Really very well. Marco just gave me a note. Go back to Chevron, they want to discuss something. Go ahead. I'm going back to Chevron. Thank you, Marco."

4. Venezuela Policy and Nobel Peace Prize Bragging (03:49–06:39)

• Trump’s position on Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Karina Machado hinges comically on whether she gives him her Nobel Peace Prize, demonstrating a transactional and uninformed approach to foreign policy.
• He launches into a self-congratulatory rant about Nobel Peace Prizes, casting aspersions on Barack Obama while extolling himself.
• Quote [05:13, Donald Trump]:
  "I can't think of anybody in history that should get the Nobel Prize more than me. And I don't want to be bragging, but nobody else settled wars..."

5. Oil Executives’ Reality Check (07:55–08:48)

• The Exxon CEO succinctly delivers a reality check, stating Venezuela’s oil sector is currently “uninvestable” due to instability, legal barriers, and risk—contradicting Trump’s grandiose promises.
• Quote [07:57, Exxon CEO]:
  "If we look at the legal and commercial constructs and frameworks in place today in Venezuela today, it's uninvestable. And so significant changes have to be made to those commercial frameworks, the legal system... durable investment protections..."

6. Contradictory Statements on Venezuelan Oil (11:47–12:41)

• Trump refers to Venezuelan oil as both “great oil” and “garbage” within the span of a few years—demonstrating inconsistency and opportunism regarding U.S. interests.
• Edited Clip [12:13, Donald Trump]:
  • 2023: "Their oil is garbage."
  • 2026: "Very good oil, great oil. It's fantastic for certain things..."

7. Posting Sensitive Data Prematurely (13:17–13:43)

• Trump is questioned for illegally posting job data early on Truth Social, brushing off the accusation as innocuous.
• Quote [13:32, Donald Trump]:
  "They gave me some numbers. I, I put, when people give me things, I post them. But the numbers, the numbers are amazing."

8. Foreign Policy Cluelessness and Bizarre Rants (09:34–10:59, 13:49–14:45)

• Trump muses on "invading Greenland," claiming strategic necessity due to Russia and China.
• Is confused by a question about Iran from an Italian reporter, then boldly asserts that European leaders are weak without him.
• Quote [09:48, Donald Trump]:
  "We're going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not...If we don't do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland and we're not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor."

9. Paranoia about Stolen Assets and Electoral Lies (15:09–17:07)

• Claims Venezuela "stole our assets like we were babies," justifying intervention with conspiratorial logic.
• Asserts, falsely, that he won Minnesota three times and that U.S. elections are corrupt.
• Quote [16:06, Donald Trump]:
  "I won Minnesota three times in my opinion...It's a corrupt voting system with an incompetent governor, a very incompetent governor."

10. Embracing Far-Right Narratives and Deflection (17:34–18:56)

• When asked whether he supports Vice President J.D. Vance’s claim that Renee Nicole Good—a woman killed by Trump-aligned paramilitary—was a “domestic terrorist,” Trump dismissively agrees.
• Quote [17:52, Donald Trump]:
  "She's an agitator, probably a paid agitator, but in my opinion, she was an agitator, a very high level agitator."

11. Comedy and Notable Moments (10:59–11:47)

• Trump introduces his “Happy Trump” lapel pin, declaring,
  Quote [11:24, Donald Trump]:
  "That's called a Happy Trump. And considering the fact that I'm never happy, I'm never satisfied, I will never be satisfied until we make America great again. But we're getting pretty close."

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Press Ejection: “If you don't mind, I’ll ask the press to leave...” [01:14, Trump]
• On the Golden Ballroom: “This is where the Golden Ballroom is going to be…” [01:25, Host paraphrasing Trump]
• Nobel Peace Prize Boasting: “Nobody else settled wars. Obama got the Nobel Prize. He had no idea why…” [05:13, Trump]
• Oil Quality Contradictions:
  • “Their oil is garbage.” [12:13, Trump (2023)]
  • “Very good oil, great oil…it’s fantastic for certain things like asphalt roads.” [12:22, Trump (2026)]
• Greenland Threat: “We’re going to be doing something with Greenland either the nice way or the more difficult way.” [09:48, Trump]
• Election Falsehoods: “I won Minnesota three times in my opinion. It’s a corrupt voting system…” [16:06, Trump]

---

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–01:14: Press thrown out of Trump-oil executive meeting
• 02:41: Trump addresses oil execs by company, not name
• 03:25: Rubio's notes read aloud by Trump
• 05:13: Trump’s Nobel Peace Prize rant
• 07:57–08:48: Exxon CEO explains the tough reality in Venezuela
• 09:48: Trump's threatening remarks about Greenland
• 11:24: “Happy Trump” pin explained
• 12:13–12:22: Trump’s flip-flop on Venezuelan oil
• 13:32: Posting job data early
• 14:21: Trump’s befuddlement over a question from Italy
• 16:06–17:07: Election misinformation about Minnesota

---

Tone & Style

The episode is marked by quick-witted banter, sarcasm, and incredulity at Trump’s brazenness. The brothers alternate between mockery and serious concern, always circling back to their central message: exposing anti-democratic behavior, government corruption, and holding leaders to account, all while channeling the energy and humor their audience expects.

---

Conclusion

This episode delivers an incisive and at times surreal look at Trump’s ongoing blend of self-aggrandizement, foreign policy chaos, and transactional politics, all set against a backdrop of comedy and brotherly banter. The brothers leverage a mixture of direct quotes, audio clips, and spirited commentary to expose the absurdity and danger of Trump’s secretive dealings with oil barons, unchecked ambitions, and conspiracy-laden rhetoric—offering listeners both a warning and a call to stay engaged.

Transcript

[Narrator/Host]

Donald Trump just threw out the press during a disastrous meeting that he was holding in the White House with oil execs where they were discussing how they would carve up Venezuela after Donald Trump's invasion. Donald Trump told members of the press that he needed to then speak with the oil execs in secret so they can discuss how they were going to take the oil from Venezuela. Now, during this disastrous meeting, Donald Trump also looked at the oil execs and said, you see this area? This is where the Golden Ballroom is going to be built, referring to his unlawful ballroom after tearing down the East Wing. And he seemed to be insinuating that they better chip in for his Golden Ballroom if they want a piece of Venezuela which is being carved up. So let me show you what went down. You see Donald Trump here kind of staring at where the Golden Ballroom is going to be as he was shaking down the oil execs. But here's where Donald Trump tells the press, if you don't mind, I will ask the press to leave now because I'm going to speak with these oil execs about what we can do to carve up Venezuela. Listen to it yourself.

[Producer/Assistant]

Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

So if you don't mind, I'll ask the press to leave and we will see what kind of a deal we're going to make with these geniuses. And I think you're going to come out very good. Thank you all very much. Thank you. Thank you.

[Narrator/Host]

Thank you, Mr. President. Then before that, Donald Trump looked out the window where he was standing in the White House. And he's like, you see this area speaking to the oil execs. This is where the Golden Ballroom is going to be. And now it's what, like 89,000 square feet? And they're talking about now building a second story to the West Wing to deal with the asymmetrical problems caused by the massive East Wing Golden Ballroom. But here's what Trump says to the oil execs.

[Producer/Assistant]

Let's play it.

[Donald Trump]

Well, I got to look at this myself.

[Narrator/Host]

Wow.

[Donald Trump]

What a. What a view. This is the door to the bar.

[Narrator/Host]

Now, because Donald Trump does not know the names of the oil execs who he was meeting with. He didn't write it down or didn't even try to learn their names. He would refer to the oil executives by the companies that they led. So he would refer to the chevron exec as Mr. Chevron. He would refer to the Exxon exec as Mr. Exxon or Mr. Shell. For the Shell. Exact. Watch this here.

[Producer/Assistant]

Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

And if we didn't do what we did, China or Russia would have been in Venezuela. I think I can. Where's Mr. Chevron? So let me ask you, they would have been there if we didn't do this. Do you agree with that?

[Narrator/Host]

And then also before Donald Trump kicked out the press, before he threw them out of the room to do the secret meeting, Marco Rubio would pass notes to Donald Trump and, and they were supposed to be private notes, but Donald Trump would then read the notes out loud. Like this note where Rubio writes, go back to Chevron, they want to discuss something. And Donald Trump's like, okay, go back to Chevron. You want to discuss something with me? Here, watch this clip.

[Producer/Assistant]

Let's play it.

[Narrator/Host]

It's already been written off.

[Donald Trump]

It's been written. All right, thank you. You'll make it back one way or the other. You're all going to do very well, I think. Really very well. Marco just gave me a note. Go back to Chevron, they want to discuss something. Go ahead. I'm going back to Chevron. Thank you, Marco.

[Narrator/Host]

Is there a question, Mr. President?

[Donald Trump]

Yes, go ahead, Marco. What was, what are you saying here, Mark?

[Narrator/Host]

If so, then Donald Trump was asked by CNN that if Maria Karina Machado, the pro opposition leader, gave you her Nobel Peace Prize, would you allow her to become the leader of Venezuela? And Donald Trump's like, we'll see. You know, no one deserves the Nobel Peace Prize more than me and it's great that she wants to give me her Nobel Peace Prize. So if she does that, maybe she'll have a role. What are you talking about? You've also just anointed Del C. Rodriguez, or you're supporting Del C. Rodriguez, who is Maduro's vp. She's an authoritarian. She used to work in Venezuelan's intelligence services backed by the kgb, backed by Russia. She also is there with this guy named Diodatos Cabello, the enforcer for Maduro. So Donald Trump's just supporting an extension of the Maduro regime right now. But here Donald Trump says, well, if Machado gives him a Nobel Peace Prize, then maybe he'll give her some role. Like you think Machado is going to work with Delsey Rodriguez? Like, do you even understand what's going on in Venezuela right now? He doesn't.

[Producer/Assistant]

Here, play this clip.

[CNN Reporter]

Thank you so much. I have a question for you on Minneapolis, but on Venezuela and your meeting with Machado next week. If she gives you her Nobel Peace Prize, will that change your view about her running that country?

[Donald Trump]

Well, I have to speak to her. I mean, I'm going to have to speak to her. She might be involved in some aspect of it. I will have to speak to her. I think it's very nice that she wants to come in. And that's what I understand. The reason is because Norway is very embarrassed by what took place. I mean, they're getting decimated. Look, whether people like Trump or don't like Trump, I settled eight wars, big ones, some going on for 36 years, 32 years, 31 years, 28 years, 25 years, some just getting ready to start like India and Pakistan, where already eight jets were shot out of the air. And I got it done in rapid order without nuclear weapons. I can't think of anybody in history that should get the Nobel Prize more than me. And I don't want to be bragging, but nobody else settled wars. Obama got the Nobel Prize. He had no idea why. He still has no idea. He walks around, he says, I got the Nobel Prize. Why did he get a Nobel Prize? He got it almost immediately upon attaining office and he didn't do anything. And he was a bad president. So, I mean, you should get the Nobel Prize for every war you stop. These were major wars. These were wars that nobody thought could be stopped. President Putin called me and he said about two of the wars that he's been trying to stop them for 10 years. He wasn't able to do it. He couldn't believe it. So in theory, you should get the Nobel Prize for every war you stopped. Every one of them was major. But.

[Narrator/Host]

And by the way, you can transfer the Nobel Peace Prize. In the will of Nobel, it says the prize is non transferable as he predicted that these types of situations would happen, happen where authoritarians would want to be traded the Nobel Peace Prize to themselves. So he said it's non transferable. In any event, then the Exxon CEO or who Donald Trump refers to as Mr. Exxon actually gave some facts here about Venezuela. And Mr. Exxon said, if you look at the commercial constructs of Venezuela, it is, quote, uninvestable right now under the current circumstances. Unless of course, the United States subsidizes the oil companies to the tune of like 50 to $100 billion. Or the United States puts boots on the ground to protect the facilities and the capital expenditures that the oil companies would need to invest in. The Exxon guys telling the truth, like, how do you expect us to invest in Venezuela when it's such an unstable place right now led by an authoritarian regime that you support and you're trying trading favors about giving you Nobel Peace Prizes to then say, like, what are you doing here?

[Producer/Assistant]

Play this clip.

[Exxon CEO]

With respect to Venezuela in particular, we have a very long history in Venezuela. In fact, we first got into Venezuela back in 1940s. We've had our assets seized there twice. And so you can imagine to re enter a third time would require some pretty significant changes from what we've historically seen here and what is currently the state. If we look at the legal and commercial constructs and frameworks in place today in Venezuela today, it's uninvestable. And so significant changes have to be made to those commercial frameworks, the legal system. There has to be durable investment protections, and there has to be a change to the hydrocarbon laws in the country. We're confident that with this administration and President Trump working hand in hand with the Venezuelan government that those changes can be put in place.

[Narrator/Host]

Then Donald Trump, with zero sense of irony, says that, you know, the problem is Venezuela's really been taken advantage of. While Donald Trump and the oil executives do a secret meeting about taking advantage of Venezuela.

[Producer/Assistant]

Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Few other things could ever be, you know, there's so much, there's so much Venezuela has been really taken advantage of by a lot of people because they drill very little. I mean, as much as you hear they have, they drill very, very little, very small percentage. But now that'll change and it'll change very rapidly because these are the big. And it'll change very rapidly.

[Narrator/Host]

So then within minutes of Donald Trump saying that nobody deserves a Nobel Peace Prize more than him, he then threatens to invade Greenland.

[Producer/Assistant]

Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

Thank you.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Thank you. And the policy question, how much money are you thinking of giving people in Greenland to get them on board with a possible US I'm not talking about.

[Donald Trump]

Money for Greenland yet. And I might talk about that. But right now, we are going to do something on Greenland whether they like it or not. Because if we don't do it, Russia or China will take over Greenland and we're not going to have Russia or China as a neighbor. Okay. I would, I would like to make a deal, you know, the easy way. But if we don't do it the easy way, we're going to do it the hard way. And I'm a man. And by the way, I'm a fan of Denmark, too, I have to tell you. And I'm, and you know, they've been very nice to me. I'm a big fan. But, you know, the fact that they had a boat land there 500 years ago doesn't mean that they own the land. I'm sure we had lots of boats go there also. But we need that. Because if you take a look outside of Greenland right now, there are Russian destroyers, there are Chinese destroyers, and bigger, there are Russian submarines all over the place. We're not going to have Russia or China occupy Greenland, and that's what they're going to do if we don't. So we're going to be doing something with Greenland either the nice way or the more difficult way.

[Narrator/Host]

Then Donald Trump is asked about the pin that he's wearing. And Donald Trump says that he's wearing a Happy Trump pin. He goes, this is the Happy Trump pin. He says, I'm very rarely happy, but they gave me a Happy Trump pin. Here.

[Producer/Assistant]

Play this clip middle.

[Donald Trump]

It'll be democracy. Peter.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

I do have a policy question, President Trump, but I'm having a hard time seeing here I see the American flag lapel pin. What is the other lapel pin?

[Donald Trump]

Somebody gave me this. You know what that is? That's called a Happy Trump. And considering the fact that I'm never happy, I'm never satisfied, I will never be satisfied until we make America great again. But we're getting pretty close. I'll tell you what, this is called a Happy Trump. Somebody gave it to me, I put it on. Thank you. Thank you.

[Narrator/Host]

During this meeting with the oil execs in front of the press, before Trump threw the press out, Donald Trump says, you know, Venezuela oil is very, very good, great oil, okay? But then in 20, which it's not though, by the way. And then in 2023, Donald Trump says their oil is garbage in Venezuela. Garbage oil. Watch Trump in 2023 versus 2026. We spliced it for you here.

[Producer/Assistant]

Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

But now we're buying oil from Venezuela, so we're making a dictator very rich. Can you believe this? Nobod. You know, where the oil, you know, their oil is garbage.

[Exxon CEO]

It's horrible.

[Donald Trump]

The worst. You can get tar. It's like tar. And to refine it, you need special plants and these whale in oil, which is a heavy oil, very good oil, great oil. It's fantastic for certain things like asphalt roads, best there is in the world for asphalt roads and other things.

[Narrator/Host]

Next, Donald Trump is asked why he posted the job data early, unlawfully early. Trump posted the jobs report and kind of misrepresented it, but he posted the data last night at 8:20pm when it was not allowed to be posted until this morning. So he's getting the numbers. Is he manipulating the numbers? And then he released it the night of and moved the markets before you're allowed to release it. He says, but if people give me things I just posted here, play this clip.

[CNN Reporter]

First off, can you respond to the manufacturing.

[Donald Trump]

Let's give CNN a chance. You know, they've been fighting so hard to get back into the mainstream.

[CNN Reporter]

Mr. President, you posted some numbers actually on Truth Social last night. People saying you posted the job data early when you're not supposed to obviously share it till the next morning. Did you do that on.

[Donald Trump]

No, no. I don't know if they posted them. I said post it whenever you get a chance. I don't know. They gave me some numbers. I, I put, when people give me things, I post them. But the numbers, the numbers are amazing.

[Narrator/Host]

Then Donald Trump was shocked that a reporter from Italy asked him a question about Iran.

[Producer/Assistant]

Let's play it.

[Donald Trump]

Gentlemen with the glasses.

[Italian Reporter]

All right, thank you, Mr. President.

[Donald Trump]

With those very big glasses.

[Italian Reporter]

Actually, yeah, Ferrari.

[Exxon CEO]

Actually.

[Italian Reporter]

Mr. President, I have two questions. What do you want the European Union to do in Ukraine? The European leaders seem pretty divided on Ukraine. And then if you can reiterate this straight message that you have to, to the Iranian leader, to Khomeini, the message.

[Donald Trump]

That you have, you're talking about Iran.

[Italian Reporter]

Iran, yeah.

[Donald Trump]

To do. I'm sorry, where are you from?

[Exxon CEO]

Italy.

[Donald Trump]

Oh, nice place.

[Italian Reporter]

Yeah.

[Donald Trump]

Okay, the first question. So what are you asking about Iran for?

[Italian Reporter]

Well, if you can answer about Europe and what you think the Europeans should do on Ukraine. And then a message from.

[Donald Trump]

Well, look, Europe has been doing so much for Ukraine, but it hasn't been enough. And obviously that I would say that President Putin is not afraid of Europe. He's afraid of the United States of America as led by me.

[Narrator/Host]

Then Donald Trump says that the, that Venezuela stole America's assets like we were babies. People steal from babies. Or are you saying who, who are the babies here? What are you even talking about? But that's why Donald Trump's like, one of the reasons we invaded is cuz they treated us like babies. They stole from us like babies. Are you stealing from babies, Donald? Like, what does that even mean?

[Producer/Assistant]

Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

But they stole our assets like we were babies. And the United States said absolutely nothing about it. So now we're doing everything about it. Now we're doing 500% about it. But it's, it's a long time after the act took place. So they stole from us. And it was taken by socialists and communists at the time. And Venezuela was going bad really bad. And as much oil as they have, they're producing almost nothing. Almost nothing, which is just a system. So we're really, if you look at it, we're taking back what was taken from us. They took our oil industry. We built that entire oil industry, started a long time ago, but they took it and they, they were very ungracious to this country.

[Narrator/Host]

Then Donald Trump claims that he won Minnesota three times, which he did not. So he spreads lies about the elections.

[Producer/Assistant]

Play this clip.

[Donald Trump]

It's a very corrupt state. I feel that I won Minnesota. I think I won it all three times. Nobody's won it for, since Richard Nixon won it many, many years ago. I won it all three times in my opinion. And it's a corrupt state, a corrupt voting state. And the Republicans ought to get smart and demand on voter id. They ought to demand maybe same day voting and all of the other things that you have to have to say for election. But I won Minnesota three that I didn't get credit for it. I did so well in that state. Every time the people were, they were crying every time after. That's a crooked state. California is a crooked state, many crooked states. We have a very, very dishonest voting system. The last time I won 24, the one that just took place, I won because it was too big to rig. You couldn't rig it. It was too big. But I won the state of Minnesota. It's a corrupt voting system with an incompetent governor, a very incompetent governor.

[Narrator/Host]

Trump is then asked why or if he agrees with J.D. vance, referring to Renee Nicole Goode, who was murdered in cold blood by Donald Trump's ss, by Trump's paramilitary, by Trump's Gestapo. JD Van said that Renee Nicole Good is a domestic terrorist and part of a left wing terrorist network. So the reporters asked Donald Trump, do you agree with that? And Trump's like, whatever Van says, I'm sure I agree with.

[Producer/Assistant]

Play this clip.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Minnesota. The vice president yesterday suggested that Renee Good, who was killed by this ICE officer, was part of a broad left wing network. What has your team told you about this broad left wing network? Who is in charge of it? Who's part of it? What, what's it called?

[Donald Trump]

Well, I haven't seen the vice president's statement, but he's generally very accurate. I hate to say, look, I watched that yesterday and there are a lot of, lot of different forms to it, but there was a woman screaming, shame, shame, shame, shame. She was a agitator, probably a paid agitator, but in my opinion, she was an agitator, a very high level agitator. So professional. She wouldn't stop screaming. I said, this isn't a normal situation. This is a professional troublemaker, because you heard it and I had it. Now, I will say this. The news sort of turned her down. Turned her off because you're trying to watch. She was so loud and so crazy and just not normal. When somebody sees something like that, they don't go screaming and screaming and the same words. So I guess you could say professional, but I didn't think she did a very good job. You have agitators and we will always be protecting ice and we're always going to be protecting our border patrol and our law enforcement. Yeah.

[Narrator/Host]

And then randomly, Tucker Carlson is here.

[Producer/Assistant]

Play this clip.

[Narrator/Host]

Well, there you have it, folks. Hit subscribe. Help us get to 6 million and thanks for watching. Love this video. Support independent media and unlock exclusive content, ad free videos and custom emojis by becoming a paid member of our YouTube channel today. You can also gift memberships to others. Let's keep growing together.