US President Donald Trump posts a map graphic on his Truth Social depicting Venezuela with an inset American flag and the label “51st State,” presenting the South American country as a potential new US state. Multiple outlets report the post follows Trump comments to Fox News in which he says he is “seriously considering” making Venezuela the 51st state.
The posts are described as provocative and are published while Trump is travelling to China for a high-stakes summit. Reporting also links the remarks to Trump’s repeated claims about US control or leverage over Venezuela’s oil resources.
On the Venezuelan side, AFP-cited reporting says interim president Delcy Rodriguez responds that Venezuela “never” considered becoming a 51st state, including after US forces captured deposed leader Nicolas Maduro in January. Rodriguez, who is reported to be overseeing a thaw in relations with the United States, has taken steps that reopen parts of Venezuela’s mining and oil sectors to foreign companies, including from the US.
Venezuelan opposition figures continue to call for elections, while Rodriguez says she does not know when a vote would take place.
