President Donald Trump announced Wednesday the U.S. government has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, with which the U.S. has been at odds over its drug traffickers trying to make deliveries that harm Americans.
But what Trump confirmed has sparked a high level of interest, as he said “other things” are happening.
Trump said during a roundtable with business leaders at the White House, “As you probably know, we just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela. A large tanker, very large. largest one ever seized, actually. And, uh, other things are happening, so you’ll be seeing that later, and you’ll be talking about that later with some other people.”
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi posted video of the seizure and indicated: “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.
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
“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.”
A report at RedState noted, “Seizing a commercial ship could have profound implications. Details are still scarce, but this could be particularly galling to El Presidente Maduro if this tanker carries the Venezuelan flag. The Trump administration may well justify the seizure as being an enforcement action against a nation under sanction by the United States, denoting the oil tanker as carrying contraband.”
When asked what happens to the oil on the ship, Trump responded: “We keep it I guess.”
Reporter: What happens to the oil on the ship?
Trump: We keep it I guess pic.twitter.com/F7uQcNUvhN
— Acyn (@Acyn) December 10, 2025
The move was described as a “sharp escalation” in Trump’s opposition to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
“The ship was part of a shadow fleet funneling crude to China and India, bypassing $100B+ sanctions and fueling a regime propped up by drug money and oil,” the report said.
TRUMP: “WE JUST SEIZED A VENEZUELAN OIL TANKER HEADING TO CHINA”
U.S. forces just seized a sanctioned Venezuelan oil tanker in a covert operation off the coast, marking a sharp escalation in Trump’s shadow war on Maduro.
The ship was part of a shadow fleet funneling crude… https://t.co/ChRv1bNfBP pic.twitter.com/DbPVREU019
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 10, 2025
BREAKING: President Trump just announced the United States has SEIZED a tanker ship off the coast of Venezuela
“It’s the largest one ever seized… and now other things are happening.”
— Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) December 10, 2025
U.S. Seizes Oil Tanker Near Venezuela As Tensions Risehttps://t.co/AjRBc3qx4l pic.twitter.com/M8bbv4oEyL
— Forbes (@Forbes) December 10, 2025
Explained RedState, “Venezuela will doubtless rush to call this piracy. Much of the American legacy media may rush to agree. And it’s a fair bet that none of that will deter President Trump and the Department of War from doing what they are doing to put an ever-tightening spiral coil of pressure on Nicolás Maduro.”
There already are numerous sanctions on Venezuela over the U.S. view that Maduro is an illegitimate leader.
Trump already has suggested troops in Venezuela and has charged that Maduro’s days are numbered.