Trump issues executive order to reinforce control over Venezuelan oil proceeds

Key Takeaways

• Trump signed an executive order declaring a national emergency concerning Venezuelan oil revenue.
• The order blocks judicial processes against Venezuelan oil funds in US Treasury accounts.

President Donald Trump on Saturday signed an executive order protecting Venezuelan oil revenue held in US Treasury accounts from legal seizure or attachment.

The order supersedes prior directives and limits any dealings in the accounts without government authorization, maintaining revenues as sovereign assets of Venezuela, the administration said in a fact sheet.

According to the White House, allowing the funds to be seized would undermine US foreign policy goals and regional stability. The administration said the action was part of a wider strategy to counter drug trafficking, reduce illegal immigration, and limit the influence of hostile foreign actors while reinforcing diplomatic and security objectives in the region.