Fact-check analysisVerified as of January 8, 2026Curated by FactVerify
Mostly True

It’s being reported by PBS that the Trump Administration told Senators today that money raised from the sale of Venezulan oil will not be put in the US Treasury. Instead it will be put in offshore shore accounts that will be managed by Donald Trump.

The claim is mostly true because multiple reliable sources, including PBS and CNN, report that the Trump administration has communicated to lawmakers that revenue from Venezuelan oil sales will not be deposited into the US Treasury but managed through alternative accounts; however, there is no clear evidence that these funds will be placed in offshore accounts directly controlled by Donald Trump personally.

Trump says Venezuela will turn over up to 50 million barrels of oil and he will control money that goes to US and Caracas - Daily Mail Online

Trump says Venezuela will turn over up to 50 million barrels of oil and he will control money that goes to US and Caracas - Daily Mail Online

Source: dailymail.co.uk

At a glance

Key Evidence

Verified January 8, 2026
The reporting

What the Evidence Shows

Several reputable news outlets confirm that the Trump administration has outlined a plan to control the sale of Venezuelan oil and manage the proceeds outside of the traditional US Treasury system. PBS News reports that the US will receive 30 to 50 million barrels of Venezuelan oil at market price, with the administration controlling the funds. CNN Politics details that officials told skeptical lawmakers the revenue would not go through the Treasury Department but instead be handled via a collection of international oil trade accounts. The New York Times and BBC also confirm that the US government plans to control these funds indefinitely.nytimes.comnytimes.comU.S. Details Plan for Venezuela’s Oil Sales After Trump Claims Millions of...bbc.combbc.comUS will control Venezuela oil sales 'indefinitely', official says+2 more

However, none of these sources explicitly state that the money will be placed in offshore accounts managed personally by Donald Trump. The Daily Mail quotes Trump saying he will control the money as president to benefit Venezuela and the US, but this is a statement from Trump himself rather than an independent confirmation of offshore account management. The available evidence suggests government-controlled or US-controlled accounts rather than private offshore accounts under Trump's personal management.dailymail.co.ukdailymail.co.ukTrump says Venezuela will turn over up to 50 million barrels of oil and he will...

Therefore, while it is accurate that the Trump administration communicated plans to manage Venezuelan oil sale proceeds outside the Treasury, the specific claim about offshore accounts managed by Donald Trump personally lacks direct verification and appears to be an extrapolation or misinterpretation.

Primary trail

Verified Sources10

Trump says Venezuela will turn over up to 50 million barrels of oil and he will...

dailymail.co.uk
Open source

Trump says US oil companies will spend the billions needed to restore...

reuters.com
Open source

Trump suggests US taxpayers could reimburse oil firms for Venezuela investment

theguardian.com
Open source
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