U.S. Seizes Oil Tanker Near Venezuela, Trump Says More Actions Possible

President calls it “the largest one ever seized” as tensions escalate with Maduro regime.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that the United States seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, marking the latest show of force amid rising tensions with the government of Nicolás Maduro.

“As you probably know, we’ve just seized a tanker on the coast of Venezuela,” Trump told reporters. “Large tanker, very large — largest one ever seized actually.”

The vessel’s ownership and origin have not been disclosed, but U.S. operations in the southern Caribbean Sea have expanded in recent months, prompting speculation about a broader confrontation with Caracas.

Trump hinted that the move could be part of a larger strategy, saying “other things are happening.” In a Politico interview published Tuesday, he warned that Maduro’s “days are numbered.”

NBC News reported that the tanker was intercepted near Venezuelan waters, though the Pentagon and State Department have not released additional details.

The seizure adds to mounting pressure on the Maduro regime as the Trump administration continues to target Venezuela’s oil trade and tighten sanctions on the country’s state-run energy sector.