Trump and Rubio to Inspect Venezuelan Oil Tanker in Texas

Two U.S. officials and a congressional aide confirmed that President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio plan to visit a tanker in Port Arthur, Texas, on Tuesday. The vessel arrived recently carrying Venezuelan crude oil destined for processing at local refineries.

The inspection tour aligns with a day of campaign activity in the state. Trump is scheduled to hold rallies in Corpus Christi and Lubbock to support Republican candidates in the midterm elections. He aims to solidify backing for U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton, who is in a tight race against Democrat James Talarico.

It is unclear if Rubio, who also serves as Trump’s national security adviser, will join the campaign events. This marks the first time he has accompanied the president on a national tour. The three sources spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the plans before they were made public.

The Secretary of State’s participation in political travel is unusual for the country’s top diplomat. This trip continues a trend in Trump’s second term where governing and campaigning overlap. Attorney General Todd Blanche has already appeared at rallies with Republican candidates.

Rubio ran for the presidency in 2016 and is viewed as a leading contender for 2028. He has not declared whether he will run again, and his political activities have remained limited since he took office as secretary of state.