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As the Secretary of the Interior, Doug Burgum explained how the increase in oil production in Venezuela could help lower gas prices for Americans, President Donald Trump intervened on a different issue (1):
“Forget that – when are they going to build a statue?”
The moment, which affected the internet, came during a Cabinet meeting where officials were discussing whether an increase in oil from Venezuela could enter American factories, which could reduce pump prices.
It also comes at a time when Venezuela is in the midst of a dramatic transition after the US-backed abduction of longtime leader Nicolás Maduro.
Before the disruption, Burgum was planning what could be a significant economic development.
After visiting Venezuela in early March, he described the country as eager to rebuild its oil sector and connect with global markets, including the US.
According to Burgum, “Their production of oil … is up to 50% of the increase in the three months we’ve been here. It’s flowing to American refineries in the Gulf, lowering the price of gas in America,” he added before being cut off.
Read more: I’m almost 50 and have no retirement savings. Is it too late?
To Trump’s credit, Burgum was the first to bring the idea of a Trump statue into the conversation.
“I really think they will put a statue to President Trump. And it’s not that it’s not a political statement. It’s a real thing,” Burgum said earlier in the meeting.
Following Maduro’s ouster in early 2026, the new Venezuelan government has continued to open up its oil sector to foreign investment and restore ties with the US (2).
That’s a big change for a country that holds the world’s largest oil reserves but has struggled for years with declining production (3).
Under Maduro, oil production plummeted from about 3 million barrels per day in 2013 to about 500,000 barrels per day in 2020, burdened by sanctions, mismanagement and lack of investment (4).
Now, as American companies return and infrastructure is being rebuilt, productivity is starting to pick up. That has implications beyond Venezuela’s borders.
Venezuela is not just another oil producer – it is one of the most energy-rich countries in the world, despite its small presence in the energy market (5).
As its production rises, it will increase supply to world markets. Simply put, increased supply can put downward pressure on oil prices.
When the cost of fuel goes down, transportation becomes cheaper. That translates into lower shipping costs and takes the pressure off businesses to raise prices to make a profit.
That’s important because the price of oil is closely related not only to what you pay at the pump, but also to what you pay for everything that needs to be transported. It is grocery, consumer goods etc.
In this sense, even moderate shifts in oil supply can have a beneficial effect on daily costs.
However, it is not that simple.
While production is rising, oil markets are shaped by many different factors, including environmental tensions, global demand and policy decisions.
That means more supply doesn’t always translate into immediate customer retention.
Markets can become volatile. Prices are subject to change, and results may change quickly. For investors, that uncertainty is often a bigger issue.
Although the increase in oil supply ultimately helps reduce gas prices, the market does not always respond the way we want it to.
That’s why some investors don’t look beyond traditional stocks and bonds when uncertainty rises.
Another traditional hedge is gold, which has historically held its value during periods of economic uncertainty and inflation.
Physical gold, in particular, is often seen as a means of protecting purchasing power when currencies weaken or markets fluctuate.
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Real estate is another asset class that tends to attract attention in uncertain times.
Unlike property, income-generating properties can generate cash flow and benefit from rising rents over time.
Rental properties have always been a proven source of consistent income for quality investors. It’s no wonder real estate makes up about 25% of the average family office.
However, the time, effort, and cost involved in managing and maintaining multiple properties prevent many from investing. So unless you’re a hedge fund titan or an oil baron, you’re locked out of one of the more lucrative corners of the market.
That’s where the mogul comes in. This real estate investment platform offers a share of blue-chip rental properties, providing investors with monthly rental income, real-time appreciation and tax benefits – without the need for heavy payments or 3 a.m. phone calls.
Founded by former Goldman Sachs investors, the mogul team selects the top 1% of single-family rental properties nationwide. Simply put, you can invest in institutional value offerings at a fraction of the normal cost.
Every property goes through a review process that requires at least a 12% return, even on the low end. Overall, the platform has an annual IRR of 18.8%. Their return on investment, at that time, is between 10% and 12% annually. Offerings usually sell in less than three hours, and investments typically range from $15,000 to $40,000 per property.
Each investment is secured by real assets and does not depend on the performance of the platform. Each property is held by an independent Propco LLC, so investors own the property – not the platform. Blockchain-based fractionalization adds a layer of security, ensuring a permanent, verifiable record of each count.
Getting started is quick and easy. You can register for an account and view available properties. Once you have verified your information with their team, you can invest like a mogul with just a few clicks.
For those who stick to mutual funds, access to high-quality information can make all the difference when markets are volatile.
Moby provides expert research and recommendations to help you identify strong, long-term investments backed by advice from former hedge fund analysts.
Over four years, and across nearly 400 polls, their recommendations beat the S&P 500 by about 12% on average. They also offer a 30-day money back guarantee.
The Moby team spends hundreds of hours analyzing financial news and data to provide you with stock and crypto reports delivered directly to you. Their research keeps you on top of market trends and can help take the guesswork out of choosing stocks and ETFs.
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Times like this can be easy to dismiss as a political arena. But they are happening against the backdrop of real economic change.
A single policy change can alter global supply chains, drive commodity prices and disrupt financial markets in ways that directly affect household budgets.
In this case, the possible return of Venezuelan oil to world markets can influence everything from gas prices to inflationary trends. But as history shows, those results don’t always happen in the predictable way.
That’s why most investors focus less on trying to predict any single outcome and more on building portfolios that can withstand multiple scenarios.
Whether that means holding hard assets like gold, generating income through real estate or using data to make more informed financial decisions, the goal is often the same: to stay relevant in a world where headlines and markets can change quickly.
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We rely only on vetted sources and reliable third-party reports. For details, see us editorial rules and guidelines.
Forbes (1); AP News (2); News Week (3); Phenomenal World (4); Visual Capitalist (5)
This article provides information only and should not be considered advice. Offered without warranty of any kind.
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