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Slightly Bullish +25

Fact Check: Markwayne Mullin bought Chevron, Raytheon stock days before Maduro capture

AI-generated analysis

📅 Then-U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin purchased shares of four companies—Chevron, ConocoPhillips, RTX, and Caterpillar—on Dec. 29, 2025.

⚠️ The purchases occurred five days before the U.S. launched its military operation to capture Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, 2026.

📈 All four companies are expected to gain financially from regime change in Venezuela, including reconstruction opportunities and asset recovery.

💼 Mullin sits on the Senate Armed Forces Committee, giving him access to sensitive national security information during the buildup to the operation.

🗣️ Quiver Quantitative first reported the trades on X on Jan. 19, 2026, after verifying that each transaction was between $15,000 and $50,000.

🔄 The claim circulated widely on social media following Mullin's Senate confirmation hearing for DHS secretary on March 18, 2026.

✅ Snopes confirmed that the trade claims are accurate, with Capitol Trades data verifying the dates and investment ranges.

📉 Chevron was the only major U.S. oil company operating in Venezuela at the time of the strike.

⚖️ ConocoPhillips had previously been awaiting a $9 billion compensation award from Venezuela for asset seizure back in 2007.

🏗️ Caterpillar stocks rose as investors anticipated reconstruction needs in Venezuela following the regime change.

🛠️ RTX, formerly Raytheon, stands to benefit as a defense contractor in the aftermath of military operations.

📉 Previous trade records show Mullin had bought shares in each of these companies as early as Sept. 13, 2023.

❓ No response has been received from the former senator regarding what he knew about the trades at the time.

🔎 The article notes that information may not always match the original article due to AI-generated key takeaways by Yahoo Scout.

Bullish Signals
  • Chevron, ConocoPhillips, RTX (formerly Raytheon), and Caterpillar stocks rose after the U.S. strike on Venezuela, indicating strong market performance and positive investor sentiment.
  • ConocoPhillips was awaiting a $9 billion payment from Venezuela following an international arbitration ruling, representing significant potential upside and cash compensation for the company.
  • Caterpillar shares rallied as investors bet on substantial reconstruction opportunities in Latin America following the regime change.
  • The companies involved stand to benefit significantly from U.S. operational control over the country, offering favorable strategic advantages in the region.
  • Markwayne Mullin has a history of investing in these sectors, with prior purchases dating back to Sept. 13, 2023, demonstrating consistent interest and confidence in their long-term potential.
Risk Factors
  • Senator Markwayne Mullin purchased shares in Chevron, ConocoPhillips, RTX, and Caterpillar on Dec. 29, 2025, just five days before the U.S. military operation to remove Nicolás Maduro was launched on Jan. 3, 2026, raising questions about insider trading or conflict of interest.
  • Mullin's purchases ranged between $15,000 and $50,000 per company during a period when he sat on the Senate Armed Forces Committee, potentially accessing sensitive national security information ahead of the regime change operation.
  • These specific stocks stood to benefit significantly from the U.S. strike, with Chevron being the only major U.S. oil company operating in Venezuela and ConocoPhillips awaiting $9 billion from Venezuela following a 2007 asset seizure dispute.
  • The timing of Mullin's trades—declaring them 18 days after the fact—occurred while he was in the confirmation stages for Secretary of Homeland Security, creating an appearance that insider information influenced his investment decisions.
  • Mullin acknowledged talking to President Trump 'all the time', suggesting his access to presidential communications could have given him early knowledge about the planned military operation against Maduro.
  • The rumor spread rapidly across social media platforms like X and Facebook after Quiver Quantitative initially reported the trades, amplifying concerns about potential ethical violations among high-ranking government officials.
Full Analysis
A fact-check article published on March 24, 2026, examined claims that then-U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin purchased shares in major corporations days before U.S. military action against Venezuela. The investigation confirmed that Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma and President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, bought stock in Chevron, ConocoPhillips, RTX (formerly Raytheon), and Caterpillar on December 29, 2025. This transaction occurred five days prior to the U.S. strike on Venezuela, which took place on January 3, 2026, resulting in the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro. All four companies stood to benefit from the operation; Chevron and ConocoPhillips operate in the region, RTX as a defense contractor, and Caterpillar for potential reconstruction efforts following regime change. Investment data platform Quiver Quantitative first highlighted the trades on X (formerly Twitter) on January 19, 2026, claiming Mullin bought up to $50,000 of Raytheon and Chevron stock. The claim spread rapidly through social media, with a Facebook post noting that Chevron was the only major U.S. oil company operating in Venezuela at the time. While Capitol Trades database confirmed the dates and values—indicating purchases between $15,000 and $50,000 for each stock—it noted that Mullin had previously bought shares in all four companies as early as September 13, 2023. Snopes verified the core of the claim, stating it was true that he acquired these stocks shortly before the military intervention. The timing of the purchases raised suspicion due to Mullin's role on the Senate Armed Services Committee and his admitted frequent communications with President Trump. The article noted that ConocoPhillips was awaiting $9 billion in compensation from Venezuela following a 2007 asset seizure by then-President Hugo Chávez's regime, adding context to why certain companies would see value after a U.S. takeover. Despite the financial stakes for Chevron, RTX, ConocoPhillips, and Caterpillar, the report emphasized that the transactions were declared 18 days after they occurred, and confirmed Mullin was advancing through Senate confirmation hearings on March 18, 2026, before being voted onto the floor the following day. The story highlighted concerns regarding potential insider trading or improper access to sensitive national security briefings as Mullin faced his confirmation vote for the DHS role.