Massie blasts Trump for selling 'stolen' Venezuelan oil 'for his own piggy bank'

Group 1 - Congressman Thomas Massie criticized the Trump administration for its handling of seized Venezuelan oil, claiming it is unconstitutional for the president to sell the oil for personal gain [1][4] - Massie referred to the oil as "stolen" and emphasized that only Congress has the authority to appropriate funds, challenging the legality of the administration's actions [1][4] - The Trump administration has initiated oil sales from Venezuela, with the first sale generating approximately $500 million in revenue, which is being held in U.S. controlled bank accounts [5][7] Group 2 - The Energy Department indicated that U.S. sales of Venezuelan oil could continue indefinitely, collaborating with major commodity marketers and banks to facilitate these transactions [8] - The Trump administration's focus on Venezuelan oil is part of a broader strategy following military actions aimed at the Venezuelan government, including the arrest of President Nicolás Maduro [4][8] - The administration's actions have led to internal conflicts, with Massie opposing large-scale federal spending and military actions without congressional approval [8]