Trump greenlights Chevron’s return to Venezuelan oil imports

Buckle up, folks — President Donald Trump just flipped the script on energy policy with a bold move to let Chevron dive back into Venezuelan oil imports.

In a nutshell, the Trump administration has reissued a license to Chevron, allowing the energy giant to resume producing and exporting oil from Venezuela to the U.S., reversing a prior revocation and aligning with an “America First” vision, as Breitbart reports.

Let’s rewind a bit to set the stage. Back in 2022, the Biden administration handed Chevron a license to operate in Venezuela during negotiations with Nicolás Maduro’s regime — talks that flopped spectacularly when promises of free elections went up in smoke.

Trump reverses Biden

Fast forward to February, and President Trump wasn’t having it. He yanked that Biden-era license faster than you can say “energy independence,” signaling a hard line against Maduro’s socialist dictatorship.

But here’s the twist — Trump didn’t stop there. This week, his administration reissued a new license to Chevron, greenlighting the company to pump and ship Venezuelan oil to American shores once again.

The terms? They’re a near mirror of the old Biden deal, allowing Chevron to produce and export just as before. It’s a limited shift, but one that packs a punch in policy circles.

Energy moves, diplomatic deals

This reversal didn’t happen in a vacuum. Last week, the U.S. brokered a deal to deport 252 Venezuelans to a counterterrorism prison in El Salvador, securing the release of 10 unjustly imprisoned American citizens and residents in return.

Call it a two-for-one special — energy policy meets diplomacy. The timing of the Chevron license alongside this prisoner swap suggests Trump is playing a broader game with Maduro’s regime.

Now, let’s hear from the man himself. “We are hereby reversing the concessions that Crooked Joe Biden gave to Nicolás Maduro,” Trump declared, pointing to unmet electoral promises by Venezuela’s leadership.

Trump calls out broken promises

Trump didn’t hold back on the critique. “Additionally, the regime has not been transporting the violent criminals that they sent into our Country back to Venezuela at the rapid pace that they had agreed to,” he added.

And the final jab? “I am therefore ordering that the ineffective and unmet Biden ‘Concession Agreement’ be terminated as of the March 1st option to renew,” Trump stated, effectively slamming the door on past deals.

Let’s be real — turns out, actions do have consequences. Trump’s message is clear: if Maduro won’t play ball on key issues, the U.S. will rewrite the rules to prioritize American interests.

Chevron’s broader ambitions emerge

Meanwhile, Chevron isn’t just banking on Venezuelan crude. About three months ago, the company kicked off a massive project called Ballymore in the Gulf of America, aiming to boost oil and natural gas output with cutting-edge efficiency.

This subsea tieback project uses standardized gear and existing infrastructure to keep costs down and production up. Chevron’s goal? A staggering 300,000 net barrels of oil per day by 2026—a 50 percent jump from 2024 levels.

Here’s the bigger picture: Chevron wants to lead with one of the lowest carbon intensity basins globally, while this Gulf project dovetails perfectly with Trump’s push for U.S. energy dominance in a world hungrier than ever for power. It’s a win for jobs, security, and a middle finger to overreaching climate mandates that often ignore practical needs.