Venezuela’s victory over the United States in the World Baseball Classic final not only marked a sporting milestone but also sparked an unexpected reaction from President Donald Trump. Minutes after the Venezuelan team’s 3-2 win, the president posted a message on his Truth Social platform that quickly sparked controversy: “Statehood!!!”
The comment didn’t come out of nowhere. A day earlier, following Venezuela’s victory over Italy in the semifinals, Trump had already hinted at the possibility of making the South American country the 51st state of the United States. “Wow! “Venezuela defeated Italy tonight, 4-2, in the WBC (Baseball!) Semifinal. They are looking really great. Good things are happening to Venezuela lately! I wonder what this magic is all about? Statehood, #51, Anyone?” he posted at the time.
The repetition of the message after the final was interpreted by some as a joke and by others as a disturbing statement, in line with other annexation proposals the president has put forward during his second term, including comments about Canada and Greenland, which have sparked controversy and strained relations with that country and that territory, respectively.
In the case of Canada, statements in which he even referred to the prime minister as a “future governor” sparked political and diplomatic criticism, cooling the tone of a historically close relationship. Meanwhile, his repeated references to Greenland as a strategic asset for national security reignited tensions with Denmark, which has categorically rejected any possibility of negotiations regarding the territory.
Trump’s statements on Venezuela come at a particularly sensitive political juncture. Earlier this year, the United States carried out a military operation that culminated in the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, who was transferred to U.S. territory to face federal charges. Since then, Trump has insisted that Washington plays a decisive role in the South American country’s future, while promoting investments in its energy sector as part of a “modernization” process.
This expansion of U.S. influence in Venezuela lends new weight to comments about the possibility of “statehood.” Although there is no formal proposal to that effect, the language used by the president has helped fuel doubts about the limits of his foreign policy and his willingness to rethink traditional sovereign relationships. Just a couple of days ago, he stated that he can do “whatever he wants” with Cuba, a nation he has threatened to “take over”.
It should be noted that Trump cannot annex new states on his own. Only Congress has that authority under the “Admission Clause” of Article VI, Section 3 of the Constitution.
Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s acting president, reacted to the sporting victory by declaring the following day a national holiday and highlighting the win as a symbol of unity: “Venezuela triumphs as one! For the first time, we are champions of the World Baseball Classic. This triumph is a victory for the passion, talent, and unity that define us as Venezuelans. An achievement that will remain forever in the heart of our country. Long live Venezuela!” she wrote on her X account. She has not yet commented on Trump’s remarks.
