Fact Check: Did Trump post an image of world map covered in American flags, calling it 243rd state?
WASHINGTON, DC: After sharing a provocative post showing Venezuela as the 51st state of the United States, a rumor has been going viral on social media platforms claiming that President Donald Trump posted an image showing the world map covered in American flags, calling it the 243rd state.
Let us analyse the viral image and fact-check it.
Claim: Donald Trump posted an image of world map covered in American flags
The viral claim surfaced in the form of a screenshot showing a post by the president on his official Truth Social handle showing a world map with all the countries, except Iran, covered in American flags, accompanied by a text stating, “243rd State.”
The alleged screenshot has been shared on multiple social media platforms such as X, Facebook, Threads, and Instagram, garnering millions of views.
Those commenting under the post are slamming Trump for his expansionist idea, indicating that many believe the screenshot to be an authentic post by Trump.
Fact Check: Donald Trump did not post it
The screenshot, however, is fake and fabricated, as there is no such post by Trump. A search on his Truth Social account for the image showed no results. A search on his commentary account on X, which archives all his Truth Social posts, also showed no results.
Moreover, a reverse image search of the screenshot revealed that it was first posted by the official X handle of the Iranian embassy in Zimbabwe as a means to mock his latest post showing Venezuela as the 51st state of America.
The post was accompanied by a caption stating, “One year later...Ceasefire extended for one more week.”
Donald Trump fuels speculations with Venezuela integration post
Trump stirred a debate after posting a graphic 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 the South American nation into the US 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.
