U.S. intends to keep oil from seized tanker, eying more vessels off Venezuela

12/12/2025 7:35

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday that the United States intends to keep the oil from the tanker the U.S. military seized Wednesday near the coast of oil-rich Venezuela.



The Trump administration may take more similar actions targeting sanctioned oil tankers near Venezuela in the coming weeks, multiple media outlets reported Thursday, citing White House officials. Leavitt refused to answer questions about the White House's future actions.



The seized tanker will sail to a U.S. port and is currently undergoing a forfeiture process, Leavitt said at a White House press briefing.



"The United States does intend to seize the oil. However, there is a legal process for the seizure of that oil and that legal process will be followed," she said.