Trump and Rubio to tour Venezuelan oil tanker in Texas
The visit to Port Arthur coincides with the president's midterm campaign stops in Corpus Christi and Lubbock.
By Sakura Novak ·
President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio plan to visit an oil tanker in Texas on Tuesday. The vessel carries Venezuelan crude that will be processed in local refineries. Two U.S. officials and a congressional aide confirmed the plans.
The stop in Port Arthur falls on the same day Trump campaigns in the state. He has rallies scheduled in Corpus Christi and Lubbock. The president aims to support U.S. Senate candidate Ken Paxton. Paxton is in a tight race against Democratic candidate James Talarico.
It is unclear if Rubio will join any campaign events. This is the first time he has traveled with Trump as the president campaigns across the country. Rubio also serves as the national security adviser.
The sources spoke anonymously to discuss the itinerary before it became public. Attorneys General and other aides have recently joined rallies, blurring the line between governing and campaigning. This visit continues that pattern in Trump's second term.
Rubio ran for president in 2016. He is viewed as a top contender for the 2028 election. He has not confirmed if he will run again. His public political activities have stayed limited since taking the State Department role.
