--- ---  # Trump Again Floats Idea of Venezuela Becoming America's 51st State by [Callum Sutherland](https://time.com/author/callum-sutherland/) ## Callum Sutherland Reporter Mar 18, 2026 7:44 PM UTC  President Donald Trump speaking on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on March 17, 2026. President Donald Trump speaking on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. on March 17, 2026.Jim Watson—Getty Images by [Callum Sutherland](https://time.com/author/callum-sutherland/) ## Callum Sutherland Reporter Mar 18, 2026 7:44 PM UTC President [Donald Trump ](https://time.com/7382697/trump-iran-war/)has revived talk of his ambitions to expand U.S. territory, this time suggesting that Venezuela could become America’s 51st state. Reacting to Venezuela’s victory over the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic final Tuesday evening, Trump shared a social media message that said “statehood.” It was in reference to a post of his from the night before, where he celebrated Venezuela's triumph over Italy in the semi-finals by [declaring](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116242335330134909): “Good things are happening to Venezuela lately. I wonder what this magic is all about? Statehood, #51, Anyone?” The messages were seemingly shared in jest, but it’s not the first time Trump has suggested governing Venezuela. In late January, during a time of heightened tensions with NATO allies over Trump’s push to annex Greenland, he [posted](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115925888562624963) a digitally-altered image of himself presenting a map which showed the U.S. flag covering Venezuela, Greenland, and Canada. The original photograph was taken in August when several European leaders visited Trump at the White House to discuss Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine following a meeting between [Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin](https://time.com/7309902/trump-putin-meeting-ultimatum-ceasefire-talks/). A “Russia-Ukraine Conflict Map” was, in fact, on display during the gathering. Since returning to office, Trump has[ persistently campaigned](https://time.com/7368798/trump-greenland-pursuit/) to annex Greenland, despite the [vocal disapproval](https://time.com/7345949/greenland-denmark-trump/) of Greenlander and Danish leaderships. He has also stated his desire to annex Canada and make it the 51st state, going so far as to offer[ free coverage](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114581970051938528) for the country under his proposed “Golden Dome” air defense system, should they accept his offer. Just last week, Trump[ again hinted](https://time.com/article/2026/03/10/trump-carney-canada-future-governor-annexation/) at his annexation ambitions by [referring](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/116206229876653286) to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney as the "future Governor of Canada." Carney has repeatedly and staunchly rejected any such idea, [reiterating](https://time.com/7297490/trump-plan-to-annex-canada-51st-state-mark-carney/) his position that “Canada is an independent, sovereign nation, and it will remain one.” **Read More**: [_Turning Venezuela into a U.S. Protectorate Is a Mistake_](https://time.com/7297490/trump-plan-to-annex-canada-51st-state-mark-carney/) But Trump’s remarks regarding Venezuela hold a different weight as he has actively overseen a military operation in the South American country. Venezuela’s fallen [President Nicolás Maduro](https://time.com/7342941/venezuela-maduro-bombing-trump-delta-force/) and his wife, [Cilia Flores](https://time.com/7343188/who-is-cilia-flores-maduro-wife-venezuela-politics/), were seized in a pre-dawn raid on Jan. 3 after the U.S. launched strikes in the capital of Caracas. The couple were arrested and brought to the United States. They await trial after both pleading [not guilty](https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/venezuelas-maduro-appear-us-court-trump-says-further-strikes-possible-2026-01-05/) [to drug trafficking ](https://time.com/7343200/maduro-venezuela-charges-court-plea-cilia-flores/)and other charges. In the immediate aftermath of the capture, there was [confusion ](https://time.com/7344705/venezuela-trump-maduro-regime-change/)as to what would happen next in Venezuela and who would govern the oil-rich nation. There was speculation that opposition leader María Corina Machado, who escaped Venezuela in December 2025 to receive the Nobel Peace Prize (which she later [re-gifted to Trump](https://time.com/7346654/machado-trump-meeting-nobel-prize-venezuela/)) may return to lead. But [Delcy Rodríguez](https://time.com/7343035/delcy-rodriguez-venezuela-president/), who had served as Vice President under Maduro since 2018, was sworn in as the nation’s interim President instead. It was a decision D.C. played an active role in, with Trump [celebrating](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115895806350456434) the appointment by saying the “partnership between the United States of America and Venezuela will be a spectacular one for all” and “Venezuela will soon be great and prosperous again.” Trump shared an equally optimistic update on Tuesday during a press briefing at the White House,[ saying](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2A2aRb5V-RA): “The relationship we have with Venezuela has been, I think you could almost say, incredible. It’s been good for Venezuela and it's been good for us.” The Trump Administration [completed](https://time.com/7346460/venezuela-oil-us-first-sale/) its first sale of Venezuelan oil, valued at $500 million, in January. “President Trump brokered a historic energy deal with Venezuela, immediately following the arrest of narcoterrorist Nicolás Maduro, that will benefit the American and Venezuelan people,” a White House spokesperson told TIME on Jan. 14. 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