Trump's Claim: Venezuela Stole 'Oil, Land, and Assets' from the U.S.

The Claim and Its Context

In December 2025, a claim began circulating that U.S. President Donald Trump had stated that Venezuela had stolen "oil, land and other assets" from the United States. This statement was attributed to Trump in a post on Truth Social, which included an image purportedly showing the president making this claim. The post went viral across social media platforms like Facebook and Threads, with users questioning whether Venezuela had taken "part of Florida."

The claim was later verified as accurate. In a Dec. 16, 2025, post on Truth Social, Trump stated that Venezuela had stolen oil, land, and other assets from the U.S. He also mentioned that his administration had designated the Venezuelan government as a foreign terrorist organization and announced a "A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela."

The post read:

Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America. It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us. The illegitimate Maduro Regime is using Oil from these stolen Oil Fields to finance themselves, Drug Terrorism, Human Trafficking, Murder, and Kidnapping. For the theft of our Assets, and many other reasons, including Terrorism, Drug Smuggling, and Human Trafficking, the Venezuelan Regime has been designated a FOREIGN TERRORIST ORGANIZATION. Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela. The Illegal Aliens and Criminals that the Maduro Regime has sent into the United States during the weak and inept Biden Administration, are being returned to Venezuela at a rapid pace. America will not allow Criminals, Terrorists, or other Countries, to rob, threaten, or harm our Nation and, likewise, will not allow a Hostile Regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets, all of which must be returned to the United States, IMMEDIATELY. Thank you for your attention to this matter!

Historical Background of U.S.-Venezuela Relations

When Trump claimed that Venezuela had stolen oil, land, and assets from the U.S., he was referencing events that took place in 2007. At that time, the regime of then-President Hugo Chávez ordered the seizure of oil fields and other assets belonging to U.S. oil companies, including ExxonMobil, Chevron, and ConocoPhillips, as well as Norwegian and French firms like Statoil and Total.

This move was part of a broader effort to nationalize Venezuela's oil industry, a process that had begun in 1976 under then-President Carlos Andrés Pérez. Venezuela, home to the world's largest oil reserves, has long attracted foreign investment and interest. While Chevron reached a deal with the Venezuelan government, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips saw their operations and assets transferred to the state-owned company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA).

Following the nationalization, ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips engaged in legal battles with the Venezuelan government over compensation. The World Bank's International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) awarded ExxonMobil $1.6 billion in 2014 and ConocoPhillips nearly $9 billion in 2019. As of 2025, Venezuela's dispute with ExxonMobil remained unresolved, and attempts to annul the $9 billion award to ConocoPhillips were unsuccessful.

Military Buildup and Controversies

After Trump took office in January 2025, he ordered a military buildup around Venezuela. U.S. military forces also began striking boats coming out of Venezuela, alleging without evidence that the vessels belonged to "narco-terrorists." These actions led to accusations that the U.S. may have committed war crimes.

Several reports highlighted the growing tension between the U.S. and Venezuela. For example, a report by The Hill noted that the U.S. military had blown up three alleged drug boats in the Eastern Pacific, killing eight individuals described as "narco-terrorists." Meanwhile, the Council on Foreign Relations documented the U.S. military's increased presence near Venezuela, raising concerns about potential escalation.

Conclusion

The claim that Venezuela had stolen oil, land, and other assets from the U.S. was rooted in historical events involving the nationalization of Venezuela's oil industry. While Trump's statements reflected a continuation of this narrative, they also sparked controversy, particularly regarding the U.S. military's actions and the legal disputes between U.S. oil companies and the Venezuelan government. The situation underscores the complex and often contentious relationship between the two nations, shaped by economic interests, political tensions, and international law.