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 | Comment on This Entry |

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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

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FWIW: drudge.com

#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

^^^fair enough
"it's a big club...",etc.

I can't find a stock for "Vitol". Will have to research this and sell some limpdik.etf and buy some gangstaoil.$

#5 | Posted by john_savage1 at 2026-01-17 06:17 PM | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply

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 | Reply