Fact-check · Oct 30, 2026 · Donald Trump
“Any money we've spent in Iran, we've more than made up for with what we did in Venezuela, taken in hundreds of billions of dollars”
MISLEADING
What the record shows
U.S. collected approximately $13 billion in Venezuelan oil revenue since January 2026 (Financial Times analysis). U.S. sent $1.7 billion to Iran post-JCPOA (Treasury/State Dept). Claim inflates Venezuela figure to 'hundreds of billions.'
Venezuela figure is $13B, not hundreds of billions. Iran comparison is directionally correct but vastly understates actual Iran spending context.
Sources
- Analysis Shows White House Made $13 Billion From Venezuelan Oil Revenue
- Venezuela Oil Corruption Claim Questioned
- Trump says Venezuelan oil revenue paid for 48-minute war 'many, many, many times' over
- Washington’s Seizure of Venezuelan Oil: Where Have the Oil Revenues Gone Since 3 January 2026? - International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine
- What Did Trump Do With the Billions He Collected From Venezuelan Oil?
- Venezuela is exporting more oil after the U.S. captured Maduro : NPR
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