New details about President Donald Trump’s Venezuela strategy surfaced over the weekend, revealing how the United States is handling oil seized from Venezuelan tankers.
According to Trump, the oil taken from those vessels is no longer under Venezuela’s control and is now being refined inside the United States.
“They don’t have the oil anymore. We took it,” Trump said during a recent interview.
The president confirmed that the seized crude is being processed at multiple U.S. refineries, including facilities in the Houston area — one of the nation’s largest energy hubs.
Behind the scenes, senior administration officials are also discussing a broader plan to rapidly restore Venezuela’s oil production under American oversight. The talks reportedly involve Chevron, along with other major crude producers and oilfield service providers.
Officials familiar with the discussions say the plan would focus on repairing long-neglected infrastructure, replacing outdated equipment, and restarting older drilling sites that have fallen into disrepair.
Companies such as SLB, Halliburton, and Baker Hughes have been mentioned as potential partners due to their experience operating in challenging environments.
Administration officials believe the strategy could quickly stabilize production while keeping Venezuelan oil aligned with U.S. and Western interests — a move consistent with Trump’s long-standing “America First” energy agenda.
As more details emerge, the plan is already drawing attention for what it could mean for global energy markets, U.S. fuel security, and America’s leverage in the region.