Corpus Christi, Texas — President Donald Trump used the first of two Texas campaign events scheduled for the day to promote oil shipments from Venezuela, saying the crude was being provided without cost to American taxpayers.
Speaking in Corpus Christi, Trump gestured toward an oil tanker outside the event and identified its cargo as Venezuelan crude. “The oil in the ships outside is being provided to the United States at zero cost to the American taxpayer,” Trump said.
Trump tied the shipments to the U.S. military incursion into Venezuela in January. U.S. forces seized former Venezuelan leader Nicólas Maduro and brought him to the United States to face criminal charges.
Delcy Rodriguez, who had served as Maduro’s vice president, has governed Venezuela since his removal with support from the Trump administration. Rodriguez agreed to arrangements directing substantial portions of Venezuela’s oil wealth to U.S. coffers.
Trump called the oil arrangement a result of “our big victory in our recent war with Venezuela,” then repeated, “To the victor belong the spoils.” He said the United States was extracting significant amounts of Venezuelan oil for itself.
The president also renewed his proposal for Venezuela to become the 51st U.S. state. Trump said the country could become prosperous under statehood and could elect a governor rather than a president.
Oil prices have risen following the war in Iran. Trump said gasoline prices would fall sharply soon.
Category: Republic
Tags: White House, Donald Trump, Venezuela, Energy