Democratic lawmakers on Friday sharply criticized President Trump's announcement of a deal to secure majority U.S. control of more than 65 million barrels of Venezuelan oil, calling it a reckless transaction that endangers American service members for the benefit of the president's allies.
Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen took to social media to voice his opposition, writing, "Let's be clear: this isn't a win. This is proof Trump put our service members at risk to get Venezuelan oil for his billionaire buddies. Putting our soldiers' lives on the line for private profit is a gross dereliction of his constitutional duty."
Trump unveiled the agreement in a post on Truth Social, describing it as the "BIGGEST OIL DEAL IN WORLD HISTORY." He claimed the transaction "MORE THAN DOUBLES American Oil Reserves, greatly increases our Oil Supply, and will substantially lower Gas Prices for all Americans, long into the future, while helping to continue to set Venezuela on a course toward Tremendous Success and Great Prosperity."
The deal covers roughly 21 percent of Venezuela's proven oil reserves, which total about 303 billion barrels. It follows the U.S. military's capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro earlier this year and comes amid rising energy costs linked to the ongoing conflict with Iran. Trump has long expressed interest in expanding U.S. investment in Venezuela's oil sector.
Senator Tim Kaine of Virginia, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, accused the president of using Maduro's ouster to "control Venezuelan oil." In a post on X, Kaine questioned whether the deal would actually reduce prices for Americans, noting that Trump's "idiotic Iran War" has driven costs up. He added, "But here's a guarantee—this will pad the pockets of Trump family and Big Oil companies and delay transition to cleaner energy. Bottom line—Using our troops for a private oil grab is corruption at epic scale!"
Republicans, however, rallied behind the president. Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno fired back at Democratic critics, stating, "If it were up to DC Democrats, Maduro would still be in power, Venezuelan oil would be going to China at half price, and the people of Venezuela would be getting robbed by a corrupt regime. Instead, this historic deal benefits both countries for generations!"
Venezuela's acting leader, Delcy Rodriguez, called the agreement a "historic milestone in bilateral relations between Venezuela and the U.S." She added, "These investments will contribute not only to the recovery and modernization of our industry, but also to our country's economic growth, the energy security of our hemisphere, and greater balance in international markets."
The political fight over the deal comes as Democrats are already divided over other issues heading into the midterms, including Harris's role in the 2026 campaign. Meanwhile, the administration's energy moves have drawn scrutiny from pro-Israel Democrats in Congress, who have their own concerns about foreign policy priorities.
Critics also argue that the deal could undermine long-term climate goals, a point echoed by Kaine and other Democrats who have pushed for a transition to cleaner energy. The debate is likely to intensify as the administration seeks to justify the transaction to a skeptical public.
