May 12, 2026 | SUNTV Global Channel Report
Venezuela has strongly dismissed recent remarks attributed to U.S. President Donald Trump suggesting that the South American nation could become the 51st state of the United States, reaffirming its commitment to national sovereignty amid rising diplomatic tensions.
In a firm response, Venezuela’s acting President, Delcy Rodríguez, rejected the comments and stressed that the country would not submit to any form of external control. She instead called for peaceful dialogue with neighbouring Guyana to resolve longstanding regional disputes.
“History and geography dictate that Guyana and Venezuela must coexist, understand one another and build a shared future,” Rodríguez stated in a video published by Al Jazeera. She emphasized that the only viable path forward was renewed diplomatic engagement aimed at transforming inherited colonial-era tensions into cooperation and mutual development.
The controversy erupted following reports by Fox News journalist John Roberts, who claimed Trump had privately said he was “seriously considering” Venezuela’s statehood within the United States. The remarks were later echoed in posts circulating on his Truth Social platform, where Trump allegedly referred to Venezuela in connection with “Statehood #51” after a baseball tournament reference involving Venezuela’s victory over Italy.
The statement has reignited global debate, particularly given Trump’s history of suggesting U.S. territorial expansion, including past comments about Greenland and Canada.
Tensions between Washington and Caracas have also escalated in recent months following reported U.S. military operations in Venezuela and legal actions announced by U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi, who previously disclosed indictments against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores on multiple criminal charges.
Despite the political uproar, constitutional experts note that any move to admit a foreign nation as a U.S. state would require approval from the U.S. Congress as well as consent from the country involved.
As of press time, the White House has not issued any official clarification regarding Trump’s alleged remarks.
