US4 min(s) read
Published 10:27 13 May 2026 GMT
Donald Trump has turned his attention to making a South American nation the 51st state of the US, in a new social media post.
Just last year, the President spoke about the "need" for the States to acquire Greenland for "national security" reasons, citing that Russian and Chinese ships were in and around the earlier.
He claimed that they "have to have it," while Republican congressman and U.S. ambassador to Denmark, Kenneth Howery, claimed that Greenland could be rebranded as “Red, White, and Blueland.”
Greenland isn't the only nation that Trump has set his eyes on, as while the Scandinavian territory could have provided an ideal location for a U.S. ballistic missile warning system, Canada was also on the 79-year-old's wish list.
Canada-US relations intensified following the introduction of Trump's extreme tariffs, with the US leader telling former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that Canada should join the United States.
By suggesting the nation give up its sovereignty, he even called Trudeau the "governor" of the "Great State of Canada" online.
But now, a new nation has been floated as a possible 51st state.
Over five months on from the United States' capture of the former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, Trump has suggested that he may try to annex the oil-rich nation with a new map, posted on Truth Social.
In the image, Venezuela can be seen outlined and filled in with an American flag, suggesting Trump's intention to take the nation over.
Speaking to Fox News correspondent John Roberts on Monday, May 11, he said that he was "seriously considering" the move.
Trump described the US' operations in Venezuela as "military genius", claiming: “Venezuela is a very happy country right now,
“They were miserable. Now they're happy,” he said in an interview for Full Measure with Sharyl Attkisson.
“The oil that's coming out is enormous, the biggest in many years. And the big oil companies are going in with the biggest, most beautiful rigs you've ever seen,” he said of Venezuela's oil industry.
The country is home to some of the world's biggest proven oil reserves, which the President said was a huge factor in US involvement.
Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's acting President, spoke to reporters on Monday (May 11), claiming that there were no plans for her country to be annexed by the US.
According to the Associated Press, she said: “We will continue to defend our integrity, our sovereignty, our independence, our history,
She further claimed at the International Court of Justice in The Hague that Venezuela is “not a colony, but a free country."
Ever since the US military operation in Venezuela got underway, Trump has explained his goal to at least administer the nation with its oil infrastructure.
Trump had claimed in January: "We’re going to run the country until such time as we can do a safe, proper and judicious transition,
"We want peace, liberty and justice for the great people of Venezuela."
Rodríguez has also been instrumental in the months since Maduro's capture, in helping the US establish stability in Venezuela as he looks to prioritize US companies’ access to OPEC (the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) nations' oil reserves.
OPEC consists of 12 oil producers, primarily in Africa and the Middle East.
While he has spoken about it several times, there is a cloud of doubt which has been cast over the suggestion.
Despite this, White House assistant press secretary Olivia Whales stated: "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."
But according to the Constitution, the President cannot legally declare Venezuela as the 51st US state without either Venezuela's consent or congressional approval.
Article IV reads: "New States may be admitted by the Congress into this Union; but no new State shall be formed or erected within the Jurisdiction of any other State; nor any State be formed by the Junction of two or more States, or Parts of States, without the Consent of the Legislatures of the States concerned as well as of the Congress."
