Washington, Nov 2 (EFE).- US President Donald Trump said Monday that his country had «total control» over Venezuela and assured that he had secured «over 50 percent of the world’s oil,» a few hours before the opening of polling stations for the midterm elections.
In an interview with Fox News presenter Sean Hannity, Trump assured that Washington controlled Venezuela and that he had deployed US representatives there.
«We have total control of Venezuela…We put our people there. We have tremendous oil,» he said.
The president also boasted that, by combining the oil reserves of the United States and Venezuela, they held over 50 percent of the world’s oil.
«We now have more than Saudi Arabia, Russia, and take the next largest country combined,» he said.
The statements come amid widespread public discontent over the rising cost of living. According to a Pew Research Center survey released in October, 74 percent of Americans are very concerned about gasoline and energy prices, up from 43 percent in January, before the start of the war with Iran.
The conflict has also pushed the national average price for regular gasoline from $2.98 to $4.25 per gallon, a 42.4 percent increase, according to data from Brown University based on daily records from the American Automobile Association.
The economy and the cost of living have become the main issues of the campaign. An AP-NORC poll released in October showed that 79 percent of voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of the cost of living, while 84 percent consider this issue to be one of the most important when deciding their vote.
Tuesday’s elections will renew all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and define the composition of one-third of the Senate.
Republicans seek to retain control of both chambers, while Democrats aim to regain legislative power and limit Trump’s room for maneuver during the second half of his term. EFE
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