Donald Trump showed off a tanker carrying what he claimed was one million barrels of Venezuelan oil while floating the idea of Venezuela becoming America’s 51st state. The president made both remarks at a Texas rally, presenting a new oil agreement as a major victory for the United States..
What Donald Trump said about Venezuela and the new US oil agreement
The focus of Trump’s appearance in Corpus Christ, Texas, was an oil tanker he said carried one million barrels of Venezuelan oil. He presented the shipment as proof that his administration’s actions were delivering major energy benefits to America. He claimed that the oil would reach the country without costing taxpayers anything (via The Guardian).
Trump also floated a possibility, saying that Venezuela could one day “become a prosperous 51st state.” The comment follows his earlier talk of acquiring territories and countries, including Greenland, Canada and Mexico.
The president portrayed the agreement with Venezuela’s interim government, which his administration supports. He claimed the arrangement could cover “billions” of barrels of oil and declared at the rally, “We’re celebrating the greatest oil victory in history.” In a Truth Social post, Trump said his energy policies had turned the Western Hemisphere into an “Energy Capital of the World.”
However, the agreement has attracted criticism over what it means for Venezuela’s political future. Critics argue that Washington has not made a democratic transition a priority. The country has held no elections since U.S. forces captured former leader Nicolás Maduro during a raid on his Caracas residence and took him to New York to face criminal charges.
The oil push also comes as higher fuel costs put pressure on American households. Prices climbed after the United States entered the war with Iran in February and Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route that carries about 20% of the world’s oil supplies. With midterm elections approaching, Trump has promised that U.S. fuel prices will soon fall sharply.
