Trump and Rubio Plan to Greet Tanker With 1 Million Barrels of Venezuelan Oil in Texas

President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio planned to greet a tanker carrying 1 million barrels of Venezuelan crude arriving in Texas on Tuesday, the first such shipment since an August energy agreement between the two countries. A White House official said the oil was provided free, at no cost to taxpayers, and called it the first of billions of barrels to come. Trump said Venezuela sent it as a gift and that he would give it to Americans to use. Reports differed on the port: Port Arthur or Corpus Christi. Trump was to speak after the docking, then hold a pre-midterm rally in Lubbock; it was unclear whether Rubio would attend. In August Trump announced a deal with Venezuelan interim President Delcy Rodriguez for control of 65 billion barrels through a private partnership. Domestic crude remains above $100 a barrel and gasoline above $4.25 a gallon, and Trump says prices will drop once the Iran war ends.

Right-leaning outlets, the New York Post and Washington Examiner, present the visit as a showcase for the administration's oil deal. The Post leads with the White House official's "free" claim, the 1 million barrels and Trump's August statement on 65 billion barrels. The Examiner leads with Trump's remarks to reporters and ties the event to the midterms, noting that high fuel prices complicate Republican campaigns. The AP, an alternative source, first reported the visit, citing a congressional aide and two U.S. officials, and names Port Arthur. Left-leaning outlets had not reported this story at the time of writing, while right-leaning and alternative outlets had.