Trump Wants to Make Venezuela the 51st US State, This is What Its President Says

Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodriguez has firmly stated that her government has “never” considered becoming the 51st state of the United States. This comes after US President Donald Trump declared he is seriously considering turning Venezuela into a US state, following the arrest of its president, Nicolas Maduro.

“It will never be considered, because if there is one thing that we, the men and women of Venezuela, possess, it is that we love our independence process, we love our male and female independence heroes,” Rodriguez told reporters as she left a hearing at the International Court in The Hague, as reported by AFP news agency on Tuesday (12/5/2026).

Since the United States arrested Maduro on 3 January, Trump has boasted about his control over the oil-rich Caribbean nation. Trump reportedly told Fox News on Monday (11/5) local time that he is “serious” about considering making Venezuela the 51st US state.

Previously, in a post on his Truth Social platform last March, Trump wrote: “Good things are happening in Venezuela lately! I wonder what miracle this is? STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE INTERESTED?”

When asked about the prospect of US statehood status, Rodriguez stressed that her government is working on an “agenda of diplomatic cooperation” with the United States.

Since taking power from the long-ruling Maduro, Rodriguez has led the thawing of relations with Washington under heavy pressure to meet Trump’s demands for access to Venezuela’s vast fossil fuel reserves.

Trump has repeatedly praised Rodriguez, who has approved reforms opening Venezuela’s mining and oil sectors to foreign companies, especially from the US.

Rodriguez, who previously served as Maduro’s vice president, has also pushed for the passage of an amnesty law that has led to the release of hundreds of political prisoners, although around 500 people remain behind bars.