'Venezuelans Are Going to Dedicate a Statue to Trump,' Top U.S. Official Claims After Visit

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said Venezuelans may one day dedicate a statue to President Donald Trump following recent U.S. efforts to reopen the country's economy and resource sector after years of isolation.

Speaking to Fox News, Burgum said the reaction during a recent visit to Venezuela suggested optimism among business leaders and officials about renewed economic ties with the United States.

"The people of Venezuela are going to dedicate a statue to Trump because he is going to reopen their economy after more than two decades," Burgum said. "The enthusiasm in Venezuela about their future is high."

Burgum went on to say that the first results of renewed cooperation were already emerging. "On Friday, $100 million worth of gold came from Venezuela to the U.S., both for industrial purposes and other commercial uses," he said, adding that Venezuela holds an estimated $500 billion in gold resources along with other minerals such as bauxite, aluminum and coal.

Burgum argued those materials could support U.S. manufacturing and technology industries, including competition with China in artificial intelligence.

The comments follow Burgum's visit to Caracas last week, where he met with acting Venezuelan leader Delcy Rodríguez and representatives from more than two dozen American mining and resource companies interested in returning to the country.

Venezuelan officials pledged to accelerate efforts to open the mining sector to foreign investment and promised new legislation that would allow international firms to extract resources such as gold, diamonds and rare earth minerals.

The visit comes amid a broader effort by Washington to expand access to Venezuela's natural resources following the capture of former president Nicolás Maduro earlier this year. A U.S.-brokered agreement between Venezuela's state mining company and commodities firm Trafigura is expected to allow the sale of up to 1,000 kilograms of gold, worth more than $100 million, according to officials familiar with the arrangement.

Burgum also said the reopening of Venezuela's oil sector could benefit U.S. consumers. "Venezuelan oil can flow to America freely and is starting to flow, will continue to flow," he said, adding that increased supply could help lower gasoline prices and ease disruptions linked to global shipping routes.

The push to expand mining and energy development faces obstacles. Analysts say Venezuela's mining sector has deteriorated after years of nationalization and declining investment, while illegal mining operations have expanded in remote regions.