News blog about US politics
Trump secures access to Venezuela’s billions in oil
Updated on January 7, 2026 – 10:03 amReading time: 18 minutes
The USA secures access to Venezuela’s billions in oil. Donald Trump is facing poor poll numbers. All developments in the news blog.
This news blog has been ended. You can read the latest developments on the Russian war against Ukraine here.
After the death of Republican US Congressman Doug LaMalfa, the majority in the US House of Representatives is considered fragile. The Republicans, who currently only have a very narrow majority there, can only cope with the loss of a maximum of two representatives in plenary votes without LaMalfa’s vote, US media report. House Republican leadership confirmed LaMalfa’s death on social media Tuesday. Read more about it here.
After the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by the US military, Caracas rejected US claims of leadership. “The government of Venezuela governs our country. Nobody else,” said acting President Delcy Rodríguez in a government meeting. “There is no external actor governing Venezuela.”
Just a few days after the US military operation in Caracas, President Donald Trump intervened directly in Venezuela’s oil industry and secured control of revenue from the sale of the raw material. The South American country will deliver between 30 and 50 million barrels (159 liters each) of sanctioned oil to the USA, the Republican announced on the Truth Social platform. Trump continued to write that he himself would control the income from the sale of oil.
It was initially unclear in what period of time the amount of crude oil mentioned by Trump would be made available from Venezuela. The volume is approximately the entire production of the Venezuelan oil industry for one to two months. The oil business is the most important source of revenue and foreign currency for Venezuela’s government. The new leadership in Caracas did not immediately comment on Trump’s announcement.
The oil will be brought directly to US ports by ship, Trump wrote. Energy Minister Chris Wright is instructed to implement this plan “immediately”. “This oil will be sold at its market price and the money will be controlled by me as President of the United States of America to ensure that it is used for the benefit of the Venezuelan people and the United States,” Trump wrote.
