Who actually believed that justification? Not even the MAGA crowd believe it, they just straight up say its about oil. Back in 2016 they called neocons "rhinos", now MAGA is neocon, cheering for the very same things they previously hated Bush Jr. for.
It's not just about oil, its about sour crude oil.
USA is an oil exporter. Why does it need more oil? The answer is, it doesn't. But US oil companies need sour crude oil for their refineries, built during the 70's and 80's to refine exactly the kind of oil produced in Venezuela. Not designed to refine the shale oil produced in the fracking boom.
It's all about the oil companies margins, and it will be paid for in American and Venezuelan blood. Because why pay to refit your refineries when human lives and presidencies are so cheap?
Ukraine will face worse in the future if they take the deal. Nations which went down fighting rose again, but those which tamely surrendered were finished.
Ten of them for every one of us, that's all I'm saying.