Trump’s Bold Claim on Venezuela
President Donald Trump stirred some conversation with a post on Truth Social, suggesting Venezuela could be the 51st state of the U.S. This follows a Fox News report indicating he was “seriously considering” such a proposal.
In a post shared on May 12, Trump included an image where the outline of Venezuela is filled with an American flag, and the words “51st state” appear above it.
This announcement came just a day after Fox News reporter John Roberts tweeted about a conversation he had with Trump, who expressed serious contemplation about this potential change regarding Venezuela.
This news arrives after significant shifts in U.S.-Venezuela relations, particularly after a key event on January 3, when U.S. forces operated in Caracas. This operation led to the deaths of President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, something Trump had authorized.
After Maduro’s regime collapsed, Delcy Rodriguez, previously Maduro’s vice president and oil minister, assumed leadership as the “acting president.” She has engaged with the Trump administration on a plan focused on stabilization, recovery, and transition for Venezuela.
Diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Venezuela were reinstated in late March. Rodriguez expressed her gratitude during a signing ceremony for a new mining law aimed at attracting foreign investment and revising socialist-era regulations. Both Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised Venezuela’s commitment to fostering diplomatic and cooperative relations.
On May 1, reports indicated that the U.S. has resumed direct flights between Miami and Caracas after a seven-year pause. The State Department confirmed the restoration of air service and noted the route aligns with Trump’s plan for Venezuela, portraying the country’s progress towards recovery. White House officials stated this would not have happened without the operation that led to Maduro’s arrest.
Moreover, Trump has expressed a desire to secure the release of Venezuelan political prisoners, stating on May 13, “We are going to release everyone.” Reports indicate there have been over 19,000 political detentions since 2014, with 457 confirmed prisoners still remaining in Venezuela as of last week.
