President Donald J. Trump announced Wednesday that US forces have seized a tanker off the Venezuelan coast.
Trump said the vessel was the “largest one ever seized” by the American military.
“We’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela. Large tanker, very large. Largest one ever seized action,” Trump said at the White House.
“And, other things are happening,” he continued. “So you’ll be seeing that later. And you’ll be talking about that later with some other people,”
“It was seized for a very good reason,” he said.
Asked what happens to the oil on the tanker, Trump responded, “We keep it, I guess.”
In dramatic footage released by the Trump administration on Wednesday, US forces stormed the Venezuelan oil tanker in an airborne takedown in the Caribbean.
American forces can be seen descending on ropes to board the tanker from helicopters.
Attorney General Pam Bondi posted the 45-second video, writing, “Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran.
“For multiple years, the oil tanker has been sanctioned by the United States due to its involvement in an illicit oil shipping network supporting foreign terrorist organizations. This seizure, completed off the coast of Venezuela, was conducted safely and securely—and our investigation alongside the Department of Homeland Security to prevent the transport of sanctioned oil continues.”
President Trump’s administration has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, two US officials told Reuters. The move comes amid a massive military build-up in the region, including an aircraft carrier, fighter jets and tens of thousands of troops https://t.co/GzmoApIIRe pic.twitter.com/nWuA96kla7
— Reuters (@Reuters) December 10, 2025
🚨 Q: What happens to the oil on the tanker you seized near Venezuela?
PRESIDENT TRUMP: We keep the oil, I guess! 🤣
Q: Where does it go?
TRUMP: You’re a good news man. Just get a helicopter and go follow the tanker!
He is the best 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/Dp9duwUxT7
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 10, 2025
Today, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Homeland Security Investigations, and the United States Coast Guard, with support from the Department of War, executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. For multiple… pic.twitter.com/dNr0oAGl5x
— Attorney General Pamela Bondi (@AGPamBondi) December 10, 2025
Fox News reports:
The move is likely to further strain relations with Nicolás Maduro’s government, which already is subject to extensive U.S. sanctions targeting Venezuela’s oil sector.
Prior to broad sanctions, Venezuela was historically a major crude-oil supplier for the U.S.
After sanctions on Venezuela’s state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) in 2019, imports dropped sharply. Limited sanctions relief and occasional licensing, notably for Chevron, allowed some Venezuelan crude to flow again to U.S. refineries in 2024 and 2025. Trump revoked Chevron’s license to purchase oil from Caracas earlier in 2025.
The action comes amid ratcheting tensions as America continues its strikes against drug trafficking boats in the Caribbean Sea. The U.S. military strikes have targeted alleged narcotraffickers. At least 22 strikes have been completed since September, killing 87 people.
The Trump administration is apparently considering launching land strikes on Venezuelan territory as it continues to pressure Nicolás Maduro, who is considered to be the illegitimate leader of Venezuela by the U.S., to step down.
Today the @FBI and our partners executed a seizure warrant for a crude oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela – used to transport sanctioned oil from Venezuela and Iran. The tanker has been used in recent years in an illicit shipping network supporting foreign terrorist… pic.twitter.com/32w0tG93jy
— FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) December 10, 2025
