Trump may have laid his trump card

Drill, Baby, Drill 104 Comments
President Donald J. Trump speaks with members of the media alongside outgoing White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, before boarding Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Friday, August 21, 2026, en route to South Carolina. (Official White House Photo by Molly Riley)

 

Trump announces major Venezuela oil deal, and what it means for Canada

The timing of this, in the midst of a major trade dispute between Canada and the US, as well as the impending Alberta independence referendum, if likely no coincidence. Trump may have just played his trump card, as it were. If our biggest customer of our most valuable product no longer needs or wants it, what are we to do?

104 Replies to “Trump may have laid his trump card”

  1. any further word on the OCD like stubbornness in certain quarters against pipelines criss-crossing the land? why *is* kaybeck so vehemently opposed to oil passing thru? and why does TROCanaduh idly stand by whilst kaybeck shoots them in the nuts?
    drown. drown in your own stupidity. drown. the world doesnt need a wuss the size of this one.

    1. Heard years ago that the QPP is heavily invested in Saudi oil. Can’t buy Alberta oil if your investment cheques come from overseas.

  2. Ask the folks in Lac Magentic what they think about oil by rail vs pipeline. 46 have no comment (incinerated) . Like it or not carbon based oil fuels, feedx, clothes, electrify the world for now and forever.

    1. Gaia worshippers have said they would rather incinerate people by crashing oil trains, than pollute nature with leaking oil pipelines.

  3. The criticism seen elsewhere is that Venz oil will not be available for years, and requires infrastructure development in the billions to upgrade and extract the volumes of oil.
    Ok, that’s fair, but not entirely accurate, and is oblivious to one glaring fact.
    This expands the US resource footprint of the oil it will need, and more importantly, keeps it away from CHY-NA. At this moment, the US can import 1.2M barrels a day, and that number will continue to increase.
    That’s 1.2Million that they can decrease importing from Canada. Will that be 2Million in 2 years, 3Million in 3 or 4 years? Never count out American ingenuity and dedication.
    Yes indeed, this is a long term US investment in a secure, bigger source of oil, than Chinada, which has chosen to landlocked its resources, and squabble about blades of grass, disturbing rocks and cutting trees, while going into insolvency and arguing over pronouns and hurtful speech.
    And yes, If Carnage decides to go full Dicktater, and either tax the oil at 50%, or whatever, I fully expect to see the US either say “keep your dirty oil”, or, turn around and reciprocate oil tariffs at greater values to Line 5, and, to SW BC.
    We have naive and stupid leadership in Chinada, and they will make us all pay for their incompetence.

    1. Currently, the US is averaging 500,000 barrels of crude a day from Venezuela since January when the status changed. To compare, the US takes in about 4,000,000 barrels of crude a day from Canada. That was during more of an ad hoc wait and see situation. With a confirmed agreement with Venezuela, it gives the US gulf coast refineries the stability needed to fully commit. I think that makes a difference.

      So, even prior to this most recent agreement, the US had already averaged the equivalent of 1/8th of the crude coming from Canada. That’s only going to increase now. Probably a lot quicker than people think.

      1. Agreed. Don’t underestimate American know how and ingenuity. Yes, Venezuela needs work, but that oil resource is valuable in more ways than one can imagine.
        It certainly pisses off CHY-NA to no end.
        Canada has a terminal case of smug arrogance of its self-importance, vastly overestimating how much others need it.
        Think of Canada like a 3 dressed as a 9.

      2. It will increase but it will take many years. The reason is that many of Venezuela’s oil reserves are ruined due to mismanagement — specifically, PDVSA drew too much oil too quickly.

        An example is El Furrial, once the most productive field in Venezuela. Mismanagement resulted in a catastrophic loss of pressure, so that it now produces at 10% of its peak. It can probably never return to its full productive potential, and much of the oil is lost forever.

        1. Could be wrong, but there are techniques that can increase the lifespan of old fields and wells that can be applied to Venezuelan oil fields. For Canada to pin it’s hopes on something being too difficult is a really bad idea.

          1. “For Canada to pin it’s hopes on something being too difficult is a really bad idea.”

            Yes, a person would have to bend and twist their understanding of reality to make that seem like a valid argument.

            (or just have a bad case of TDS)

    2. But, but, but BTS … your leadership is LOVE. They LOVE is LOVE the planet. Net Zero LOVE. Trump is HATE … he would rape the planet like he raped that woman in a boutique dress shop somewhere in NYC in some month of some year about 45 years ago … well anyway … Trump wants to RAPE Canada (and now Venezuela) … but Carney is LOVE.

      Yeah, we’ve seen the same strategy used by the WNBA … because crazed, angry, unhinged leftists are all about LOVE … and inclusion … and LOVING everything they don’t already HATE.

    3. exactly. imagine for a moment, Venezuela oil becomes THE. TOP. PRIORITY. for USA.
      hmmmm. a modern day Manhattan project? every scrap of brain power, muscle, finances, ingenuity and all of a sudden the ‘projected time line’ is cut in half?
      God Bless the American military and God Bless the American taxpayer for financing the defense of western free enterprise for over a century and to that l add God Bless Donald Trump a very flawed and very effective leader.

      1. “Donald Trump – a very flawed and very effective leader.”
        That defines him perfectly. He’s both a genius and his own worst enemy.

  4. Trump has laid his trump card. So presumably Carney, the cold fraud, has sucked his chilly con carney?

  5. I can’t see any other way around this.
    The only option that will be left for Alberta, will be to join the United States in the near future.
    If it is to survive.

    2. Congress in the US can’t get anything done, so anything as big as adding a state is unlikely.

      Becoming a protectorate of the US makes sense. Alberta would be a sovereign nation, but with the guarantee of US defense protection in return for allowing a few US military bases there.

      Then, just sign a bunch of economic deals with the US to set up the economy, and focus on what immigration process you will have for the sane people who want to leave the other Western provinces.

      1. IDK … when the crazy, unhinged, New Democrat Islamist Party takes over both houses of Congress … they’ll probably be making Puerto Rico a State … and Manitoba and The Maritimes … for good measure and a permanent Socialist supermajority that will END America once and for all.

    3. no. no need to join, joining is merely ‘on paper’ anyways. what they need to SURVIVE is to HIVE OFF from Canaduh, then all the ‘stuff’ on paper is trade agreements, border crossing agreements, pipelines, a common language etc up the wazoo. NO NEED to ‘join’.

      1. Net Zero is the difference between what Alberta puts in and Canada takes out.

      2. Net zero AND an NEP is entirely in the cards for Carney. I wouldn’t put it past him to open the Constitution and claw back provincial rights over resources, in the holy name of Greta. God knows there’s probably a majority of Canadians (and Supreme Court justices) that would love to see Alberta suffer under their climate-tard ideology.

        1. And that might be the straw that broke even the backs of the Alberta Elbows Up retarded camels.

  7. L – Anorexia Nervosa can, if untreated, lead to death by failing to provide the necessities of life, a version of suicide.

    Trump Derangement Syndrome, if untreated, is leading to failing to provide the economic, cultural and political necessities of life of Canada. To it becoming a failed state, a post nation-state, a colony of the Chinese Communist Party.

    First this once, *free and democratic society, once a trust society, became infiltrated by cultural Marxism(identity politics) group rights replaced individual Rights, and the resultant conflict infiltrated every institution and often family.

    The gov’t., under Mark Carney claims to be the only source of truth and claims absolute power. Dissent is a crime, either hate speech or mischief. The official religion of the state is a revival of ancient Paganism, of which Net Zero Carney is the High Priest.

    *(freedom under moral law, a principle of Judeo-Christianity foundational to Western Society.)

    A confederation is, by definition, made up of individual provinces, of which one or more may decide to choose life, in the present and increasingly dire situation.

      1. I pray the DNC gets absolutely devastated in the mid terms. This neuveux Marxism movement needs to be purged as well.

  8. Elbows up eastern city big baby boomers think they can out tantrum Trump; witness their spiritual leader Dog Ford but like their hero have no idea how goods get to their metropolitan enclaves and are blinded to Trump’s resolve.

    There’s just one problem with the no deal is better than a bad deal mantra. This is the best deal we’re getting it, and now it’s worse thanks to US punitive tariffs, and we have a prime minister declaring war on our closest ally, all to pander to their power base in Quebec, trying to protect outdated dairy, skim off social media again, claiming cultural protection and elsewhere permitting transshipment of aluminum and steel. It’s not going to stand, none of it, and midterms or fantasies of a future Democrat president change none of that. Carney has flinched big time, called on his jingoism.

    1. TDS infested boomers exist in the West, even in Alberta. Last night I had to point out all the idiotic name changes that no one made any peep about. Then told them to change the damn subject. Soon, I am sure I’ll be banned again from joining the fire sit-arounds.
      I was banished during the scamdemic. The asshole who did it made sure all fires were at his place to make sure he could keep me away. He and most involved then are no longer there now.

    2. ” … we have a prime minister declaring war on our closest ally, all to pander to their power base in Quebec, …

      Here, let me finish that sentence for you:

      … and the elbows-up pinkydinks in all our major cities.

    3. Agreed Shamrock, the eastern Canadians have no real idea of what they’re dealing with, within 90 days there will be snow to help them focus their thoughts.

      1. What Ontario and Quebec need is a month’s worth of -40°, or what is also known as an average January day on the prairies. Better yet, an ice storm followed by the month of -40°. Even the greater Vancouver and Victoria areas deserve a taste of this.

        1. crackling ball busting cold. the stuff that gives one an ice mustache,
          vehicles that must be left running or they wont start.
          horror stories. lm renting now so the thermostat aint up to me.
          l do however, and a lifetime experience to prove it, when l was an infant the
          uninsulated wood frame house was heated by the kitchen stove.
          ergo infant kritter is made to assume he’s an eskimo whereupon my metabolism
          for over 70 years (today’s my 75th) HARD WIRED to deal with cold,
          -burn off the calories in body heat (came in handy in times of plenty
          l cd get away with gluttony), and
          -acquire a *tolerance* for cold. lots of examples of that incl an ice diving qualification the ONLY time the instructor saw someone do it in a wet suit.

          as such, bring it on !!!! ball busting cold to put the fear of God in the greenies !!!!
          glow bull warming is now entire neighborhoods in flames because someone screwed up the fire place aaaaaaand the hydrants are all froze. wheeeeee !!!!!
          and, AND ‘ace in the hole’ l got TWO part mastiffs the younger of which pours off body heat and l love to cuddle with him.
          bring. it. on.
          and -40 easy to remember that’s where the thermometers meet.

          1. Wow kritter, that sounds super inviting and I’d really love to come and hang out with you and do stuff (especially that ice diving), (in the summertime), but I think it’s best for me to just watch you have all that fun from here in central Florida… with a girl perhaps, rather than a mastiff (not that there’s anything wrong with mastiffs of course, they’re great dogs, great, big, dogs).

            But you are correct. It’s going to take brutally cold weather to get these climate religion fanatics to finally realize they’ve been conned.

        2. No need to go that extreme for the coastals, both Victoria and Vancouver can be brought to a grinding halt with a mere 2 inches of snow and -10.

          1. “No need to go that extreme for the coastals, both Victoria and Vancouver can be brought to a grinding halt with a mere 2 inches of snow and -10.”

            No, it only takes 1 inch of snow.

  9. And now that the USA has sidelined Canada on the oil issue, what is Canada going to do about its retarded inability to refine, and about the importation of almost all your gas, diesel, plastics and natural gas from the USA?

    1. ” …. what is Canada going to do …”

      Canadians will keep standing at the fence, look to the south, and continue bleating.

      3. “Canadians will keep standing at the fence, look to the south, and continue bleating.”

        Yup. Every attempt at planning a refinery in Canada for the last 20 years or so has been shut down immediately by the eco-weenies.

    2. What’s Canada gonna do? Make Potash unaffordable … and DARE Trump to find a Potash deposit in Latin America as a work around.

      In the interim … Canada will have reduced agriculture productivity to the point of worldwide starvation … starting with the poorest nations and peoples. Essentially MAIDing vast swaths of humanity … which actually feeds-into (sorry) their whole Net Zero philosophy. But the mass die-off will be blamed on Trump … so it’s all good.

  10. The Venezuela government does not want this to succeed, nor does anyone else at the head of state table. Soft wood tariff or quota is next.

  11. This whole carnage circus ain’t about queebeKKK, it’s about taking Trump andMAGA down for the Globalists.

      1. No, blind squirrel applies. Marx Carnage probably doesn’t care about tanking Canada’s economy, he’s trying to take down Orange Man Bad.

  12. I’m not an expert on the oil industry. BytheSea and Oz seem to have a better handle on this than I ever would.
    I did work for an oil well service company (bit manufacturer) for a very brief period. Even at this tiny little player, they had hundreds of bits inventoried on shelves waiting for customers to have them hot-shot to their well sites.
    I wonder if large companies have large amounts of infrastructure components sitting on their shelves or in yards awaiting deployment?
    I seem to recall some 30+ years ago after the first Iraq war that Saddam set the oilfields of Kuwait on fire. If I remember correctly, the “experts” said that it would take years upon years to put the fires out. Completely underestimating the likes of Red Adair or Fireboss. But then again, they are private sector entities and don’t f#$k around.
    Don’t underestimate private enterprise that is well capitalized to change things quite quickly. That, with the Nimitz battle group offshore.
    Unlike NEP 1, the rigs going south at Coutts/Sweetgrass will turn right on the I-90 and head for the port of Seattle, and will find lots of work on the fields of Venezuela

    1. Venezuela is going to employ a lot of Canadians in the revitalization of their oilfields; and it will happen quickly.

    2. I think Safety Boss of Calgary put out a good chunk of those wells. I think they were averaging about 1 well a day by the end.

  13. Congrats Brian! On writing a measured and thoughtful piece … virtually devoid of TDS. I particularly enjoyed this quote …

    ”What if Trump says to Alberta, “We no longer need your oil, but if you became a state, then we’ll take it all and build new pipelines for it, too?”

    However we don’t “TAKE” things here in capitalist (mostly) America … we BUY them … we PAY for them. So the Oil Industry of Alberta will be getting PAID as part of the USA as well as protected.

    But I’m curious … if the US is the only country that has heavy crude refining capacity … where will that Eastern pipeline be delivering the oil? And at what transport cost? Looking at a map … that’s a LONG pipeline … and I’m guessing it must traverse multiple Indian Reservations … with many ‘Chiefs’ who will demand new pickup trucks, snow machines, and HUGE curved big screen TV’s.

    Dear PM Carney … you could have made a FAIR and improved Trade Deal. But now look what you’ve done. Guess you need a new meeting with Obama … or maybe HER and Kamalalala? But you’ll just wait till the midterms as Obama reassured you he has all the infrastructure in place to CHEAT the VOTE again. We’ll see … shan’t we?

    1. As you have pointed out, if they were a state, we wouldn’t be ‘taking their oil’ (whereby we see the remnants of the Canadian psyche displayed before us). We’d be definitely opening up the oil sector and providing jobs for our new citizens (through the efforts of private companies, for all those freedom loving folks worried about state control) — although I would prefer they remain a territory with no voting rights until it is somewhat assured they have been de-programmed from the cult they’ve been in (this may take some time, as the programming has been going on for quite a while).

      And an eastern pipeline has bigger obstacles than reservations (although that will be used). A rather large number of obstacles to be honest, of all kinds. First and foremost I’d say “follow the money and see where it connects”.

        1. Bigger and more involved.
          Suffice to say there are all sorts of moneyed interests that are going to use any pipeline deals to, uh, serve their money interests first and foremost. And of course there’s going to have to be a something put into place to make the Canadian people cough up some more money for this, which will of course lead to more money being needed, on and on.
          Long story short, the money doesn’t give a rat’s behind about those pipelines (until it might suit them) just like they don’t give a crap about “Net Zero” (also a ponzi).
          But there are actual physical issues with the creation of a pipeline east (and to some extent building out the one to the west) — won’t be easy or cheap. Venezuela would likely be more than online by the time of completion (and that’s if the Canadian government is serious, which I doubt).

          And when they finally get around to wanting that resource extracted (after much money, money laundering, derivatives, etc.)…well perhaps we might find out why it’s now Lake America. Tune in for the ongoing sage; maybe we’ll find out!

      2. The sooner they become a state, the sooner we can deport all their illegal aliens. And that includes illegal aliens from Ottawa.

    2. China, India, South Korea, Japan, and some EU countries can also refine sour heavy crude.

  14. Most of the benefits of Venezuelan oil won’t be felt until Trump is out of office. This is a long term strategic move, secure resources for the US, and deny them to their rivals. What this means for Canada in the medium to long term depends on Canada.

    1. Those who don’t plan for the future end up getting condemned by the future. See: Canada

    2. “Most of the benefits of Venezuelan oil won’t be felt until Trump is out of office. This is a long term strategic move, secure resources for the US, and deny them to their rivals.”

      Exactly so. Just what a competent businessman would try to achieve.

  15. I love card games, especially euchre, pinochle, and poker. Euchre is probably my favorite because it’s the one game I could almost best my dad at when I played against him.
    Trump cards are valuable. This is a valuable card, but perhaps not the most. Yeah, I don’t think this is “the” trump card, not yet.
    Now, are we going it alone, or do we have a partner? Maybe we’ll find out.

    1. We have two partners.
      Canadian oilfield experts and tradespeople, of which there are plenty; and Venezuelans who are anxious to go to work and restore their lifestyle to what it once was.

    2. the whole thing shows me again at least, Trump’s ‘strong suit’ (pun intended) is ye olde business acumen. a businessman firs,t an amateur politician distant 2nd.

  16. The US has carried out an overt act of economic and military imperialism.

    Will it get away with it? Perhaps. But South Americans carry a deep historic resentment of foreign imperialism, and the Bolivarian Revolution could rise again. Venezuelans will undoubtedly be worse off for it, but when did that ever halt a revolution?

    1. You go Killer, fight the power!

      Venezuela gets some much needed investment and employment (all industries are serviced by other business). We get a potential source of oil that’s not Canadian. The non-economic benefits have tremendous potential.
      Guess we’ll find out, or not, or maybe.

      1. I’m not fighting anything. I’m calling it as a I see it. There is significant risk of social blowback, no matter what the benefits to Venezuelans. That risk can not be glossed over.

        Any oil company coming in will almost certainly consider that risk. I don’t know if it’ll dissuade them, but once bitten twice shy.

        1. Pssst … we’re getting MORE ‘social blowback’ from Canada than Venezuela … and we KIDNAPPED their leader (well, effectuated an arrest). Sayyyyyy maybe Carney is due for a good discombobulation? Nah, he already did that to himself

          1. Ignoring risks and thinking raw power ovecomes all obstacles is what ensnared the US in a seemingly endless conflict with Iran. So very Trumpian.

          2. “Seemingly endless conflict with Iran”?

            What? Are you a 15 year old who thinks 6mos is still a huge chunk of your life? You’re too funny … seemingly endlessly funny.

            Most of that 6mos. has been spent quietly waiting for Iran to come to their senses … peacefully.

        2. Yes, Venezuelans definitely want to hang on to their poverty and destitution and will fight to maintain those things.

          1. When have South Americans ever bought into a radical political movement at the expense of their own well being?

            Oh wait, they do it all the time.

            And in this case, it doesn’t even have to be radical. A middle-of-the-road free-enterprize political party that promises to tear up the deal could win an election. Then the US would face a decision — do they overthrow a (truly) democratically elected party to enforce the deal? That would open a huge can of worms. Imperialism of any stripe is tough.

          2. “ Oh wait, they do it all the time.”

            Be-cause they’re STUPID? Or addicted to the promise of free stuff? Or don’t want to disappear forever into the jungle? Perhaps they’re not stupid … but need the protection of a SERIOUS Army … one that can discombobulate the highest security of compounds … more than a part time Ollie North operation?

          3. Whatever your point was supposed to be, it doesn’t reduce the risk that Venezuela will tear up the deal at some point. Trump might not consider that risk, but I’m sure oil companies will. It will be interesting to see which ones agree to invest in Venezuela.

        3. “There is significant risk of social blowback, no matter what the benefits to Venezuelans.”

          There is a very minor risk of that happening. ns suffered for a long time under Chavez and then Maduro, and the vast majority of them are *overjoyed* that the US has taken an interest in reviving their economy.

          To claim otherwise is just more wishful thinking on your part. You are the type of odious person who would actually *enjoy* seeing a violent, bloody revolution in Venezuela if it might possibly embarrass President Donald Trump.

    2. They’ve tried the Castro, Maduro, Che thing … how’d that work out for them? tren de Aragua? Mass misery? Starvation? Eating Zoo animals? How soon you forget. Anyway … I’d call this economic cooperation, partnership and profit sharing … hardly imperialism,

      1. It worked out shitty, but they did it all the same. That’s how South America works.

        And in regards to co-operation, the current Venezeuelan government is under the thumb of the Trump administration. No one even pretends otherwise.

        1. That’s how South America works.

          What an incredibly racist, bigoted thing to say Killer. Careful, you might be breaking some of your country’s hate speech laws with that!

          And to Kenji — yeah, have run into a few Venezuelans; they were pretty much fed up with Chavez; Maduro took it to a new level. They were asking around about potential help from America back during the Obama administration. No, these were not necessarily pro-American Venezuelans; they were just desperate.

          1. There have been over 80 violent government overthrows in South America over the last century. Arguably 100, depending on what you count as a violent overthrow.

            https://clinecenter.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/2026-02/coup_table_2.2.1.html

            So yeah, that’s how South America works. And this latest deal will be fuel for the fire for a motivated political movement.

            That’s a risk that must be considered. I can see a future president modifying Trump’s new deal just to alleviate that risk.

          2. Is that how S. America works? Or how it’s been ‘worked’? Was it always like that? What if it changed? Maybe we’ll find out.

            Still, kind of a nasty comment to make. I wish the people of S. America well (I don’t expend as much wishing as I do on my own people, but hey fair’s fair). Just as I wish the people of Canada well (no, really, except maybe for you Killer…I think that, due to these rather insensitive comments, you deserve a few good lessons in humanity).

          3. Oh save me your faux concern. No one’s buying it.

            Hatred for American imperialism is a long-standing and deeply rooted South American tradition. It’s an easy way for a politician to garner support. Chavez beat that drum like it owed it money.

          4. KM is correct to some extent re ‘mercun meddling in S American affairs,
            l will throw in Central America for the heck of it:
            -propping up somoaza’ dictatorshit for the sake of United Fruit (hint, look for a fraternal relationship CEO and head of CIA at the time)
            -responding to sandanista victory with the Reagan 3 way arms skullduggery
            -overthrow of Chile’s ELECTED marxist leader Allende
            there’s bound to be additional unpublicized examples whereby ‘mercuns provide satellite images of leftist jungle compounds etc
            jist sayin’ . . . . . .

          5. Oh, he’s correct Kritter, in part. Hence the reason I said “works, or has been worked”. And my country has unfortunately been a large part of that (the history behind it is interesting).
            Part of our national redemption should probably be to help try and mend the evils we’ve been party to (and we, the people, have been left holding the bag for).

            But my ‘fake concern’ appears to be a lot more humane than simply writing all of Latin America off as “always been and always going to be this way”.
            And if it helps my people along the way, well, I think that’s known as ‘winning’.

      2. Kenji, there are always anti-Americans because the US is the Poster Boy for capitalism.
        The Neo-Marxists just don’t give a fck if it makes their nation wealthier and the people better fed.

    3. Do you mean like the foreign imperial King of Canada appointing every political leader and having veto power over every single law?

  17. Trump cards don’t get wasted on Canada, they are saved for more important issues. All this trade war stuff is a war between the Trump admin and The City of London, the Globalist Cabal, Davos Gang, etc. etc. Canada is just the proxy state, so expect some collateral damage Canada. Everyone keeps mentioning that the Laurentian Elites are behind this, no, they are just low level soldiers and don’t sit at the table.

  18. Trump cards don’t get wasted on Canada, they are saved for more important issues. All this trade war stuff is a war between the Trump admin and The City of London, the Globalist Cabal, Davos Gang, etc. etc. Canada is just the proxy state, so expect some collateral damage Canada. Everyone keeps mentioning that the Laurentian Elites are behind this, no, they are just low level soldiers and don’t sit at the table.

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