U.S. President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that oil obtained under the recent agreement with Venezuela will be directed toward replenishing the United States Strategic Reserve.
In his post, the president said: "One of the things I am going to do with the Venezuelan Oil is fill up the Strategic National Reserves which, because of Sleepy Joe Biden, has been virtually emptied."
The arrangement, disclosed on Friday, grants majority control to U.S. parties over 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan crude. Trump noted the current U.S. reserve holds only 289.7 million barrels, which he said amounts to roughly 40% of its capacity following drawdowns "from both President Trump and Biden before him."
Trump added that the "topping out" process will start soon and described the inflows as "a Gift from Venezuela to the People of the United States."
The transaction is structured between U.S. and Venezuelan private businesses and, according to the announcement, would create the world's second-largest private oil company by reserves. The deal is presented as positioning the United States to be supplied for decades.
Context and immediate details
The president's social media remarks emphasize using Venezuelan crude specifically to restock the Strategic Reserve. The figures cited in the announcement include the 65 billion barrels under majority U.S. control and the current Strategic Reserve level of 289.7 million barrels, characterized as approximately 40% of capacity.
Structure and scale
The deal is described as a commercial arrangement between private firms in the United States and Venezuela that would create, by reserves, the world's second-largest private oil company and supply the U.S. for an extended period.
Statements from the president
Trump's post framed the transaction as both a practical step to replenish national stocks and as a direct benefit to U.S. citizens, reiterating that the "topping out" process will begin shortly.
Available public details in the announcement focus on the size of the reserves involved and the stated intent to direct Venezuelan crude into the Strategic Reserve, while broader operational, logistical, and timing specifics were not provided in the statements quoted.