Trump shows off oil tanker at Texas rally, floats statehood for Venezuela: ‘We’re celebrating the greatest oil victory in history’

Donald Trump appeared at a campaign event in Corpus Christ, Texas, on Tuesday and directed attention to a tanker positioned off the coast. According to The Guardian, he stated that the ship held one million barrels of oil from Venezuela. The appearance took place roughly nine months after U.S. forces removed Nicolás Maduro from power in the South American country.

During the rally, Trump highlighted an oil arrangement reached with Venezuela’s interim government. His administration supports that interim leadership. He described the deal as covering billions of barrels of oil.

Trump raised the possibility that Venezuela could one day join the United States as its 51st state. He has made similar comments in the past about other territories and countries, among them Greenland, Canada, and Mexico.

Deal with interim government draws attention amid energy concerns

Standing at the podium, Trump, who previously claimed he now governs Venezuela, told the audience that the Latin American nation “will become a prosperous country, and who knows? Maybe some day soon it’ll become a prosperous 51st state.” He followed with the words “That’s possible.”

He also declared, “We’re celebrating the greatest oil victory in history.” Trump said the oil was reaching the United States at zero cost to American taxpayers as he gestured toward the tanker. He has previously demanded Venezuela’s oil, land, and assets.

Shortly before he walked on stage, Trump posted on Truth Social. In that message, he wrote, “By unleashing Energy Dominance from Alaska, all the way down to Venezuela, I have made the Western Hemisphere the Energy Capital of the World.”

Critics have questioned Trump’s Venezuela arrangement. They have said the administration has not pressed for a shift toward democracy in Venezuela. No elections have occurred since Maduro was taken into custody by U.S. forces following a raid on his Caracas home and transferred to New York on criminal charges.

The focus on securing oil accelerated after Trump chose to enter the conflict with Iran in February. Nationwide gas prices increased after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz, a route that has carried about 20 percent of global oil supplies.