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Drudge Retort: The Other Side of the News
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.

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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.

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

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

Sounds like Putin

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

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