BY. CHARLES CHIJIOKE
Venezuela has firmly rejected comments attributed to United States President Donald Trump suggesting the South American nation could become the 51st state of the US, insisting it would protect its sovereignty and pursue peaceful regional dialogue instead of foreign domination.
The response came from Venezuela’s acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, amid mounting controversy over Trump’s remarks following the 2026 World Baseball Classic.
According to reports, Trump revived the controversial idea after Venezuela defeated Italy 4-2 in the tournament’s semi-final clash. Reacting on his Truth Social account, the US president wrote: “Good things are happening to Venezuela lately. I wonder what this magic is all about? STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE?”
He reportedly doubled down after Venezuela later defeated the United States in the final, posting a one-word reaction: “Statehood!!!”
Responding to the development, Rodríguez dismissed the idea and stressed that Venezuela would continue defending its independence while seeking diplomatic engagement with neighbouring Guyana over their long-running territorial dispute.
“History and geography dictate that Guyana and Venezuela must coexist, understand one another and build a shared future,” Rodríguez said in remarks published in a video by Al Jazeera�.
“For this reason, the only realistic way forward in this dispute is to return to direct dialogue and the search for creative,
mutually beneficial solutions that will enable us to transform a dispute inherited from the colonial era into an opportunity for cooperation, joint development and the well-being of future generations of both peoples,” she added.
The controversy deepened after Fox News correspondent John Roberts claimed Trump privately told him he was “seriously considering” making Venezuela America’s 51st state.
The comments have reignited international debate over Trump’s repeated suggestions about expanding US territorial influence during his second presidency. Earlier in 2026, Trump reportedly shared an AI-generated image portraying an Oval Office meeting in which the American flag covered Canada, Greenland and Venezuela.
The latest dispute also comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Washington and Caracas. Reports earlier this year claimed US forces carried out airstrikes in Venezuela before capturing former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, in Caracas.
US Attorney General Pamela Bondi later announced criminal charges against Maduro and Flores, accusing them of narco-terrorism conspiracy, cocaine importation conspiracy and weapons-related offences in an indictment filed in New York.
Political analysts say Trump’s comments, even if made rhetorically, could further strain diplomatic relations across Latin America and deepen anti-US sentiment in the region. Experts also note that under the US Constitution, any admission of a new state would require congressional approval as well as the consent of the country involved.
As of the time of filing this report, the White House� had not issued any formal clarification regarding Trump’s latest remarks.
