At a MAGA
rally in Highland Heights, Kentucky, Trump tied the gains to the 2026 operation
that ousted Nicolás Maduro, crediting it with boosting U.S. energy needs
through oil flows. Critics like Rep. Sean Casten called it a boast about theft
without legal rights, while economist Morgan J. Freeman pegged actual
Venezuelan oil revenues since January 2026 at $13 billion.
Meanwhile, Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced $76 billion in upcoming oil and gas investments, including a U.S. deal for 17 fields and 250 rigs, sparking debate over the claims' scale and ethics.