After Canada jibes, Trump floats Venezuela as America’s ‘51st state’ in new post
WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump reignited controversy this week after sharing a provocative post suggesting Venezuela could eventually become the 51st state of the United States.
The remarks came as Trump prepared for a key China summit with President Xi Jinping and continued drawing attention with his aggressive foreign policy rhetoric.
Donald Trump shares provocative Venezuela post before China summit
Trump stirred conversation after posting a graphic on Truth Social showing Venezuela alongside an inset American flag, fueling speculation about his vision for closer ties between Washington and Caracas.
The post framed the idea as part of a “America First” strategy focused on economic dominance, energy control, and geopolitical leverage.
The message argued that integrating Venezuela into the United States could create “massive economic opportunities” for American companies while also sending a strong signal to rivals, including Iran, Russia, and China.
The statement described Venezuela’s massive oil reserves as a strategic asset that could help lower energy prices for Americans and strengthen US influence across the Western Hemisphere.
The timing of the post also drew attention because Trump is set to travel to China for a major summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The trip is expected to focus heavily on global power struggles, trade tensions, and international alliances.
Venezuela’s interim leadership rejects Donald Trump’s idea
The comments arrived just one day after Venezuela’s interim president Delcy Rodriguez reportedly stated that the country had “never” considered becoming part of the United States.
Rodriguez took over leadership duties after Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was captured during a US military operation targeting the presidential palace in Caracas.
Since assuming office, Rodriguez has overseen warming relations with Washington and introduced reforms reopening Venezuela’s mining and oil sectors to foreign businesses, particularly companies from the United States.
Still, she made clear that joining the United States was not under consideration.
Following Maduro’s removal, Venezuela’s opposition has continued demanding new national elections.
Rodriguez acknowledged discussions around a future vote but reportedly said she did not know exactly when elections would happen, only stating they could take place “sometime” soon.
Donald Trump previously made similar comments about Canada
Trump’s Venezuela comments also revived memories of his repeated remarks about Canada potentially joining the United States.
What initially began as campaign trail jokes aimed at former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau continued long after Trudeau left office.
Trump later made similar comments while speaking about Prime Minister Mark Carney during tensions involving trade and economic policy.
During Carney’s visit to Washington in October 2025, Trump again referenced the possibility of a “merger of Canada and the United States” while discussing strained trade relations between the neighboring countries.
Carney publicly laughed off the idea at the time and stressed that despite disagreements, the two countries shared deep historical and economic ties that would allow them to resolve disputes together.
Donald Trump frames Venezuela idea as economic and political victory
The message shared by Trump portrayed the Venezuela proposal not as military expansion but as a strategic political victory.
The post claimed that bringing Venezuela closer to the United States would help “crush socialism’s last gasps in the hemisphere” while giving America access to enormous natural resources and stronger regional control.
The statement also argued that the move would show global rivals that “resistance doesn’t pay” and described the idea as “America First at its most ambitious.”
At the same time, the post acknowledged that any such move would require “mutual consent and Congressional approval.”
