A more immediate upswing in Venezuelan crude flows would align with several priorities for Trump, who has prized American energy dominance both as a source of leverage globally and political capital at home, where he is seeking to allay cost-of-living concerns ahead of critical midterm elections in November. A supply boost from Venezuela, however modest, is seen as not only helping to check crude and gasoline prices, but also expanding the US’s leeway to move against Iran without jolting the market.