President Donald Trump said Tuesday that interim authorities in Venezuela will turn over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of sanctioned Venezuelan crude to the United States, a move he says will benefit both American and Venezuelan people.
The announcement, made on social media days after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, directs the oil to be sold at market price with Trump asserting control over the proceeds, and marks a significant U.S. push into Venezuela’s energy sector.
Analysts note that while the shipment is substantial, it represents only a fraction of Venezuela’s total oil reserves, which are the largest proven crude reserves in the world.
“You know, at some point, they should say, ‘You know, you did a great job. Thank you. Congratulations.’ Wouldn’t it be good?” Trump said. “I would say that if they did a good job, their philosophies are so different. But if they did a good job, I’d be happy for the country. They’ve been after this guy for years and years and years.”
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The White House is organizing a meeting Friday with U.S. oil company executives to discuss Venezuela, which the Trump administration has been pressuring to open its vast-but-struggling oil industry more widely to American investment and know-how.
The estimated value of the Venezuelan crude ranges from 1.7 billion to 2.8 billion dollars, depending on the final volumes delivered and market prices at the time of sale. Energy Secretary Chris Wright has been tasked with overseeing the operation, ensuring that the oil reaches American refineries safely.
Trump’s announcement has already influenced global oil markets, with U.S. crude prices dipping slightly in response to the expected increase in supply. The move illustrates a strategic effort to secure energy resources for the United States. By combining an immediate transfer of oil with longer-term plans to rebuild Venezuelan production through American investment.
READ: Trump says US will ‘run’ Venezuela, tap oil after Maduro’s capture (
On Sunday, Trump said he wasn’t ruling out an attack on Colombia and described its president, who’s been an outspoken critic of the U.S. pressure campaign on Venezuela, as a “sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”
In early January 2026, U.S. forces conducted a high-profile operation in Caracas aimed at capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The strike involved coordinated air and ground elements, targeting key government facilities and security positions. Maduro was apprehended and removed from power, an action the Trump administration justified by citing alleged narcotics trafficking and national security concerns. The operation, while precise, resulted in casualties among Venezuelan security personnel and some civilians. Following Maduro’s removal, Venezuela entered a period of political upheaval, with interim authorities facing the dual challenge of stabilizing the country.