Trump claims Venezuelan oil deal will refill Strategic Petroleum Reserve, blames Biden for depletion

President Trump posted on Truth Social that oil from a newly announced deal giving the U.S. majority control over 65 billion barrels of Venezuelan reserves would be used to replenish the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. He claimed the reserve had been made 'virtually' empty, though it held about 290 million barrels as of late August, near a 44-year low but far from empty, and blamed former President Joe Biden. Experts noted that degraded Venezuelan infrastructure and the sour crude's logistical challenges make a near-term refill unlikely.

“One of the things I am going to do with the Venezuelan Oil is fill up the Strategic National Reserves. The 'topping out' process will begin very shortly, and is a Gift from Venezuela to the People of the United States.” Quote verified against source