The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday, Jan. 7, edition that as U.S. President Donald Trump discusses expropriating Venezuelan oil, he contemplates handing its failing infrastructure to American companies and covering their rebuilding costs. The Globe's Rita Trichur writes that Mr. Trump said Monday: "Oil companies knew we were considering action. But we didn't inform them of our decision." Mr. Trump would have us believe there is no reason to worry that U.S. energy companies were caught flat-footed by President Nicolas Maduro's capture. Chevron, which already operates in Venezuela, is reportedly sending more oil ships there. Do not, however, expect a stampede by other U.S. oil giants. Exxon Mobil and ConocoPhillips seem hesitant to invest in Venezuela, despite Mr. Trump's business case for them. Mr. Trump claimed in an NBC News interview that U.S. oil companies could be "up and running" in Venezuela in under 18 months. The biggest head trip is yet to come for the U.S. oil industry. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and his cabinet colleague, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, are planning their first formal calls with top executives to ratchet up the pressure on energy companies to return to Venezuela.