US Oil Sale to Trump Donor Firm Sparks Corruption Concerns
The first U.S. sale of Venezuelan oil since the Trump administration’s actions has gone to Vitol, a trading firm whose senior trader, John Addison, donated millions to Trump’s 2024 campaign. Addison reportedly pledged to Trump that Vitol would secure the best price for the oil, sparking accusations of corruption given Vitol’s history and the deal’s potential for windfall profits. Proceeds from the sale are being held in Qatar, raising concerns of a slush fund with a lack of oversight, as critics argue. This arrangement, along with the involvement of a campaign donor and the administration’s actions, fuels accusations of abuse of power.
John Q. Hosedrinker