Trump Sells Venezuela Oil to Megadonor

Saturday, January 17, 2026

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.

Posted by retort at 11:57 AM | 9 COMMENTS | permalink

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

Isn't this Blatant Corruption?
#3 | Posted by Effeteposer

Doesn't matter. Trump's handpicked Supreme Court said so. President has immunity as long as it can be framed as an official act.

#6 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2026-01-17 10:22 PM

50 million barrels of oil for $250 million

That is $5/barrel

Oil is selling for between $59 and $66/barrel

So, to be clear, Piggy used the US military to steal Venezuelan oil, sold it at 1/12th the market price to a personal donor and put the money in a Qatar bank away from ANY US control.

BTW, Venezuela WAS selling their oil for $22/barrel due to sanctions.

This is incredible.

Thanks magat scum.

#7 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-01-17 10:31 PM

This is money that could be in our pockets if we nationalized oil.

Maybe someday people will get it.

#8 | Posted by snoofy at 2026-01-17 10:53 PM

As a reminder, Venezuela owed debtors around $170Billion, which was being paid by oil proceeds.

#9 | Posted by truthhurts at 2026-01-17 10:57 PM

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