Key facts
- Trump and Rubio visited an oil tanker carrying Venezuelan crude in Texas.
- The visit occurred on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
- Trump held campaign rallies in Corpus Christi and Lubbock on the same day.
- The trip aimed to support Republican candidates in the midterm elections.
- Rubio accompanied Trump in his capacity as national security adviser.
President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited an oil tanker filled with Venezuelan crude in Texas on Tuesday, October 27, 2026. The visit highlighted a deal that gave the U.S. majority control of over 65 billion barrels of oil reserves in Venezuela. The trip coincided with Trump's campaign rallies in Corpus Christi and Lubbock, aimed at bolstering support for Republican candidates in the upcoming midterm elections, particularly for Attorney General Ken Paxton in his close Senate race against state Rep. James Talarico. Rubio, who also serves as Trump's national security adviser, accompanied the president on the trip, marking a rare political outing.