Saturday, January 17, 2026

Trump Sells Venezuela Oil to Megadonor

The first U.S. sale of Venezuelan crude was to a company whose senior oil trader donated to Donald Trump's re-election campaign and attended a White House meeting with the president last week. John Addison, a senior trader at Vitol who donated about $6mn to political action committees backing Trump's re-election campaign, was involved in his company's efforts to secure a $250mn deal for Venezuelan crude.

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Trafigura, another global trading house, also bought $250mn of Venezuelan oil, said two people familiar with the deals. The company spent $525,000 on lobbying in the US in 2024 and 2025, according to OpenSecrets.

Comments

FWIW: drudge.com

#1 | Posted by C0RI0LANUS at 2026-01-17 01:40 PM

At below market price, no doubt.

They get a handsome profit by selling stolen oil at market rate and Trump makes a handsome profit selling stolen oil at below market rate.

#2 | Posted by jpw at 2026-01-17 01:49 PM

Isn't this Blatant Corruption?

Political patronage and favoritism.

Theft with Violence from Venezuela?

Trump has No Shame and the Courts and Congress are either Cowed or Complicit.

America has Fallen into a state of Petty And Dangerous Lawlessness on every Front.

After Trump will this be the New Normal?

Will all Presidents be as God's.

#3 | Posted by Effeteposer at 2026-01-17 01:51 PM

Sounds like Putin

#4 | Posted by LegallyYourDead at 2026-01-17 02:47 PM

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