Washington, District of Columbia — Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky sharply criticized President Donald Trump on Tuesday over his administration’s sale of Venezuelan oil, accusing the White House of violating the Constitution by controlling billions of dollars in revenue without congressional approval.
Massie, a Republican known for his libertarian views on spending and executive power, objected to the administration’s handling of oil seized after the U.S. ousted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro earlier this month. In a post on X, Massie described the oil as “stolen” and said the proceeds were being placed into overseas accounts beyond Congress’s authority.
“Selling stolen oil and putting billions of dollars in a bank in Qatar to be spent without Congressional approval is not Constitutional,” Massie wrote, adding that only Congress has the power to appropriate funds. He argued that the president cannot “create a second Treasury overseas for his own piggy bank.”
Trump previously announced that Venezuela would turn over between 30 million and 50 million barrels of oil to the United States. He said the oil would be sold at market price, with the proceeds controlled by the president to benefit both Venezuela and the U.S. The administration confirmed last week that its first sale generated roughly $500 million, with funds held in U.S.-controlled accounts, including one in Qatar, according to reporting by Semafor.
The Energy Department has indicated that additional oil sales could continue indefinitely. The White House pushed back strongly, dismissing Massie’s criticism and defending Trump’s actions as necessary after removing what it described as a narcoterrorist regime.
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