CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas
President Trump made an appearance Friday at a port where he stood beside an oil tanker filled with Venezuelan fuel. He boasted about his efforts to improve affordability for Americans, which seemed to leave viewers wondering about his preference in the competitive Senate primary.
During his visit, he promoted an “energy transition” strategy that backs fossil fuels, contrasting with former President Biden’s focus on renewable energy. He emphasized the importance of voting in the upcoming midterm elections to keep a Republican majority in Congress.
“We’ve got 360,000 barrels of Venezuelan crude oil on that tanker,” he said, pointing at the vessel, all while recalling the military operation he ordered just weeks prior to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump also expressed support for Delcy Rodriguez, Maduro’s interim replacement, who acknowledged the need to send oil to the U.S. and allow American firms to play a role in Venezuela’s oil industry.
“For both of our benefits, we’ll refine our oil here in Texas and ship it worldwide,” he stated. “We’ll keep some for ourselves. We’re going to help them make more money and rebuild their country, which was kind of a disaster.”
Calling Venezuela “our new friend and partner,” Trump thanked the nation for their improving relationship.
In the past, he ordered the seizure of a Venezuelan tanker under Maduro’s regime, and the fate of those vessels remains uncertain.
He also noted the rise in U.S. energy exports, highlighting that liquefied natural gas exports have surged by 37% over the last year—record levels for the nation.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who is pursuing the Republican Senate nomination, was among the attendees. Incumbent Senator John Cornyn also traveled with Trump but left the event without clear support from him.
The visit underscored Trump’s ongoing focus on affordability issues, noting a tax cut he signed that would benefit seniors and others this year.
“We inherited a mess last year, a real mess. They talk about affordability, but they are the reason for it,” he remarked, aiming for unity despite his criticisms.
“We took this country back. We need to win the midterms. Everyone must get out and vote. Let’s keep improving everything,” he urged.
His appearance came just days before the Texas primary scheduled for March 3, yet he did not reveal his preferred candidate in the closely watched Senate race.
Incumbent Cornyn is up against notable challengers like Attorney General Paxton and Houston Representative Wesley Hunt, both embroiled in controversies that could hurt them in the general election.
Paxton currently leads in polling for the Republican primary, while Hunt trails behind.
Trump mentioned both Cornyn and Paxton positively during a flight aboard Air Force One, noting their competitive race. “They’re both great people,” he added.
