President Trump made the announcement in a Truth Social post on the evening of Dec. 16. “Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled in the History of South America,” Trump wrote. “It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before—Until such time as they return to the United States of America all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us.”
Trump accused Maduro of using oil sales from this “stolen land” to finance “drug terrorism,” human trafficking, and other crimes.
“Therefore, today, I am ordering A TOTAL AND COMPLETE BLOCKADE OF ALL SANCTIONED OIL TANKERS going into, and out of, Venezuela,” Trump posted. “America… will not allow a Hostile Regime to take our Oil, Land, or any other Assets, all of which must be returned to the United States, IMMEDIATELY.”
The President neglected to explain at what point Venezuelan territory had been the property of the United States.
