'A Wise Choice': Trump Says Venezuela Will Buy Only American-Made Products From Oil Deal Proceeds

Last Updated:January 08, 2026, 06:49 IST

Donald Trump said Venezuela will use proceeds from a new oil deal to buy only American-made products, calling it a “wise choice” for both countries.

US President Donald Trump (Image: AFP)

US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that Venezuela will purchase only American-made products using the proceeds from what Washington has described as a new oil deal, portraying the move as a strategic realignment that would benefit both nations.

“Venezuela is going to be purchasing ONLY American Made Products, with the money they receive from our new Oil Deal," Trump mentioned in a post on his Truth Social platform.

Calling it “a wise choice," the US President added that it would be “a very good thing for the people of Venezuela, and the United States."

Trump said the purchases would span a wide range of sectors, including American agricultural products, medicines, medical devices, machinery and equipment aimed at improving Venezuela’s electric grid and energy facilities.

“In other words, Venezuela is committing to doing business with the United States of America as their principal partner," he said, thanking readers for their attention to the matter.

The announcement comes in the wake of a dramatic US operation that led to the capture of Venezuela’s former President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas last Saturday.

The two were flown to the United States and are facing trial in the Southern District of New York on charges related to alleged drug trafficking and narco-terrorism conspiracies, according to US authorities.

Following Maduro’s removal, Delcy Rodriguez, who served as Vice President and energy minister under his administration, assumed the role of interim President.

The White House has asserted that Washington now holds decisive influence over Venezuela’s interim authorities.

“We obviously have maximum leverage over the interim authorities in Venezuela right now," Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters, according to AFP.

“We’re continuing to be in close coordination with the interim authorities, and their decisions are going to continue to be dictated by the United States of America," she said.

Trump had announced that Venezuela would hand over between 30 and 50 million barrels of sanctioned oil to the United States.

He has claimed that while the crude would be sold at market prices, the revenue, potentially worth more than $2 billion, would be placed under his personal control to ensure it is used in a way that benefits both countries.

US Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Washington would control sales of Venezuelan oil “indefinitely."

According to the White House, Trump is scheduled to meet US oil executives on Friday to discuss plans for Venezuela’s oil sector, which has deteriorated after years of sanctions and underinvestment.

While Trump has said US oil companies will invest in Venezuela’s facilities, no specific pledges have yet been confirmed.

AFP reported that Washington is enforcing what it calls a blockade to prevent unauthorised Venezuelan oil exports.

US authorities seized an oil tanker in the North Atlantic on Wednesday after tracking it from near Venezuela’s coast.

Leavitt said the vessel, which claimed to be Russian-flagged, had been deemed “stateless after flying a false flag" and described it as part of a Venezuelan “shadow fleet" transporting sanctioned oil.

She added that the crew would be “subject to prosecution."

Trump has repeatedly asserted that the United States will “run" Venezuela following Maduro’s capture, despite acknowledging that there are no US forces on the ground.

Interim President Rodriguez has rejected such claims, insisting that “the government of Venezuela is in charge in our country, and no one else."

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