According to a report by Anadolu Agency on Saturday, May 16, 2026, US President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States earned “a fortune” from Venezuelan oil following a military operation linked to the removal of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, according to remarks he made during a televised interview on Fox News.
Speaking shortly after returning from a visit to China, Trump said the operation against Venezuela was completed in what he described as an extremely short timeframe, while insisting that it demonstrated the strength of the US military. He claimed the intervention lasted “48 minutes and 13 seconds” and resulted in the swift conclusion of hostilities.
According to Trump, Venezuela retains a capable military force, but he argued that the United States was able to dominate the confrontation decisively. He also suggested that American forces carried out extensive strikes while deliberately avoiding the destruction of key national infrastructure.
“We left their bridges, we left their electricity capacity,” Trump said, adding that the US could, if it chose to, completely dismantle Venezuelan infrastructure within a matter of days.
Beyond the military claims, Trump focused heavily on the economic outcome of US involvement, asserting that Washington has benefited significantly from Venezuelan oil resources since the operation. He said the United States has “made a fortune” from Venezuelan oil and suggested that the country’s production and trade arrangements had generated major financial returns for both sides.
Trump also claimed that Venezuela had increased its earnings in recent months compared to previous years, arguing that the changes following the operation had reshaped the country’s economic output. However, he did not provide specific evidence or independently verifiable figures to support the assertions.
The president further used the interview to criticise Cuba, describing the country as “a totally failed nation” and predicting that Havana would eventually be forced to seek assistance from Washington. He referred to a reported $100 million humanitarian aid package, saying Cuba was accepting support because it “needs help.”
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