President Trump has seized the largest oil tanker in U.S. history from Venezuela’s coast, marking an unprecedented escalation against the narcoterrorist Maduro regime that threatens American security and energy independence.
Story Highlights
- Trump administration seizes massive Venezuelan oil tanker “Skipper” with 2 million barrels of crude oil
- Tanker previously sanctioned for supporting Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Hezbollah terrorist networks
- Operation conducted by Coast Guard and Navy from USS Gerald R. Ford in show of American strength
- Venezuela’s Maduro regime cries “piracy” while threatening to “break the teeth” of America
Trump Takes Bold Action Against Terror-Linked Oil Network
The Trump administration executed a dramatic seizure of the Venezuelan oil tanker “Skipper” on December 10, 2025, marking the largest such operation in American history.
Coast Guard forces, supported by the Navy and launched from the USS Gerald R. Ford, took control of the vessel carrying approximately 2 million barrels of heavy crude oil.
This decisive action demonstrates Trump’s commitment to dismantling networks that fund terrorism and threaten American interests in our own hemisphere.
Trump says the U.S. has seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuelahttps://t.co/96t8IUbPLw pic.twitter.com/jild6ABAgr
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 11, 2025
Tanker’s Direct Links to Iranian Terror Operations Exposed
The seized vessel, previously known as the M/T Adisa, was sanctioned by the U.S. in 2022 for its role in a sophisticated smuggling network supporting Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Attorney General Pam Bondi confirmed the tanker had been sanctioned “for multiple years” due to its involvement in illicit oil shipping supporting foreign terrorist organizations.
This operation strikes directly at the financial lifelines funding anti-American terror groups operating with impunity under the previous administration’s weak policies.
Venezuela’s Maduro Regime Threatens American Forces
Venezuela’s socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro responded to the lawful seizure with typical authoritarian bluster, claiming his regime is “prepared to break the teeth of the North American empire if necessary.”
The Maduro government’s statement calling the operation “international piracy” reveals their desperation as Trump’s maximum pressure campaign effectively targets their illicit revenue streams. This stands in stark contrast to the Biden administration’s appeasement policies that allowed these criminal networks to flourish for years.
Congressional Democrats Criticize Strong American Action
Predictably, Senate Democrat Chris Van Hollen attacked the operation, falsely claiming it proves the administration’s anti-drug efforts are merely cover for regime change. This criticism exposes the left’s continued preference for weakness over strength when confronting dictatorships that threaten American security.
The operation clearly targets vessels supporting designated terrorist organizations, perfectly aligning with America’s legitimate national security interests and our obligation to protect citizens from foreign threats.
Trump’s Strategic Naval Presence Delivers Results
The successful seizure demonstrates the effectiveness of Trump’s robust military positioning in the Caribbean, featuring the largest regional naval presence in decades. The USS Gerald R. Ford’s deployment sent an unmistakable message to hostile regimes about American resolve under strong leadership.
When Trump stated “we keep it” regarding the seized oil, he articulated a common-sense approach to dealing with assets used to fund terrorism against American interests, ensuring taxpayers benefit from successful operations against our enemies.
