Trump floats idea of turning Venezuela into America's 51st state: Report

Fox News reporter John Roberts claimed that U.S. President Donald Trump was seriously considering making Venezuela the 51st state of the country on Monday. Roberts made the claim as he was asking questions to White House Spokesperson Anna Kelly. Roberts admitted to being surprised after learning of the President's ambitions, as it was the first time that a sovereign country might get invited to join the U.S.

Roberts asked Kelly how a process like this would work if it were true. The White House Spokesperson did not confirm or deny the claim, but said that President Trump was not someone known for accepting the status quo. "He is always considering a host of options to improve our country," she said. She also said that Acting Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez and her administration had been cooperative with the needs of the United States so far.

Rodriguez, however, defended the sovereignty of her country and rejected any idea of merging with the United States. "We will continue to defend our integrity, our sovereignty, our independence, our history," she said at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, as per Associated Press. Rodriguez, who served as vice president under Nicolas Maduro, said that her nation was "not a colony, but a free country."

According to a Fox News report, Trump said that Venezuela loved him. He had also promised to get the country's oil industry going again. Cabinet and White House officials have had meetings with top oil executives from major companies to urge them to invest in the South American country.

Venezuela's oil is valued at approximately $40 trillion, which is an attraction for the U.S. President, as per the Fox report. Since Maduro was ousted, the Trump administration has been managing the country's oil exports, which reached more than 1 million barrels per day in April, the highest ever since 2018. "As the President has said, relations between Venezuela and the United States have been extraordinary. Oil is starting to flow, and large amounts of money, unseen for many years, will soon be helping the great people of Venezuela," White House spokesperson Kelly said.

Trump's reported interest in the South American country has met with criticism at home, as Rep. Ted Lieu slammed the administration on X for focusing on the South American nation instead of worrying about the issues at home. This is not even the first time President Trump has spoken about making Venezuela the 51st state. Back in March, he posted the same idea on Truth Social after Venezuela beat the U.S. in a World Baseball Classic match. "Good things are happening to Venezuela lately! I wonder what this magic is all about? STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE?" he wrote.