President Donald Trump moved to flex American power abroad by announcing the United States will keep oil and tankers seized near Venezuela, which will likely be supported by the U.S. Navy’s new “Golden Fleet.”
Speaking to reporters Monday at Mar-a-Lago, Trump confirmed that the U.S. government is holding onto both the crude oil and the vessels taken by the U.S. Coast Guard earlier this month.
“We’re going to keep it. Maybe we’ll sell it. Maybe we’ll keep it. Maybe we’ll use it in the strategic reserves,” Trump remarked, adding that “we’re keeping the ships, also.”
The seizures come as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, whose regime has been targeted by U.S. sanctions tied to oil exports and alleged corruption.
In recent weeks, the Coast Guard, backed by the U.S. Navy, intercepted multiple tankers off Venezuela’s coast as part of what the administration has described as an intensified enforcement effort.
U.S. personnel first took control of a massive tanker known as the Skipper on Dec. 10.
The ship was carrying roughly 1.8 million barrels of crude oil and was accused of falsely flying the flag of Guyana while transporting Venezuelan oil.
Days later, Trump announced the administration would enact what he called a blockade on sanctioned oil tankers traveling in and out of Venezuela.
That announcement was followed this weekend by the seizure of another oil vessel, the Centuries, which was suspected of transporting sanctioned crude.
According to shipping data cited by U.S. officials, the Centuries had recently loaded about 2 million barrels of crude oil at Venezuela’s Port of Jose Oil Terminal before being intercepted.
Trump confirmed Monday that U.S. forces are still tracking an additional tanker believed to be linked to Venezuela, suggesting further seizures could follow.
“We’ll end up getting it. Yeah, we’re actually pursuing it,” Trump told reporters.
“Can you imagine? Because it came from the wrong location, it came out of Venezuela and it was sanctioned.”
The president repeated that the vessel’s origin alone placed it in violation of U.S. sanctions, making it a legitimate target for interception.
China reacted furiously to the seizures, accusing Washington of overreach and violations of international law.
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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian criticized the United States for what he called arbitrary enforcement actions on the high seas.
“The U.S. practice of arbitrarily seizing other countries’ vessels grossly violates international law,” Lin said, while arguing that Beijing opposes any actions that infringe on sovereignty or security.
Lin added that Venezuela has the right to pursue independent cooperation with other nations and said China supports Caracas in defending what it calls its legitimate interests.
Maduro responded by ordering Venezuela’s navy to escort certain oil tankers, a move that has raised concerns about potential confrontations at sea given the growing U.S. military presence in the region.
Asked about the possibility of escalation, Trump brushed aside the threats while issuing a stark warning to the Venezuelan president.
“He can do whatever he wants. We have a massive armada formed. The biggest we’ve ever had. By far the biggest we’ve ever had in South America,” Trump commented.
“He can do whatever he wants. If he plays tough, it’ll be the last time he’s ever able to play tough.”
The remarks highlighted the administration’s willingness to use military leverage alongside economic pressure as it seeks to isolate Maduro’s government.
The same day, Trump unveiled plans for a new class of U.S. Navy battleships as part of what he described as the Navy’s Golden Fleet, a major expansion aimed at restoring American naval dominance.
Trump said he has approved construction of two new battleships that will be outfitted with advanced weapons systems including guns, missiles, hypersonic capabilities, and high powered lasers.
He praised the design as returning to traditional construction methods, noting the ships will be built with steel rather than aluminum.
The president estimated construction would take roughly two and a half years.
When asked whether the new battleships were intended to counter China, Trump said the vessels are designed to counter any potential adversary.
“They’ll be the fastest, the biggest and by far, 100 times more powerful than any battleship ever built,” Trump commented.
The battleships are expected to weigh more than 30,000 tons each, with long term plans calling for between 20 and 25 vessels to anchor the Golden Fleet and bolster U.S. naval strength.
Trump also took aim at Colombian President Gustavo Petro during his remarks, issuing a blunt warning over drug trafficking concerns.
“He better watch his a–,” Trump said, accusing Colombia of operating major cocaine production facilities.
“They make cocaine in Colombia, and they send it into the United States from Colombia.”
Trump stressed that his criticism was directed at Colombia’s leadership, not its citizens.
“We love the Colombian people. I love the Colombian people,” he said. “But their new leader is a troublemaker and he better watch it.”
“He better close up those cocaine factories,” he warned. “There are at least three major cocaine factories. We know where they are.”
The comments came in response to Petro’s criticism of U.S. demands that Venezuela return assets previously seized from American oil companies.
Over the weekend, Petro questioned the legitimacy of U.S. territorial claims, asserting that parts of the United States were historically taken rather than purchased.
Petro pide a Trump "nos devuelva" Texas, California y todo los estados del sur de EEUU que fueron "robados" e "invadidos".pic.twitter.com/qgSSJ9p5Rc
— Dolia Estévez (@DoliaEstevez) December 18, 2025
“Texas is a territory that was invaded. It wasn’t sold. So was California and all of the southern U.S.,” Petro said.
Watch Trump’s full press conference here:
