Venezuelan President's Response to Trump's Plan to 'Annex' His Country

US President Donald Trump has floated the idea of making Venezuela a part of US territory. Venezuela’s interim President, Delcy Rodriguez, stated that her government has “never” considered becoming the 51st US state. As reported by detikNews, relations between the US and Venezuela have heated up after US troops captured former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in Ciracas, Venezuela, on 3 January 2026. That capture was used by Trump to seize control of Venezuela’s natural resources, particularly oil. Trump also posted a controversial message in March 2026 regarding the idea of taking over Venezuelan territory. In March, Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: “Good things are happening in Venezuela lately! I wonder what miracle this is? NATURALISATION, #51, ANYONE INTERESTED?” Trump reportedly told Fox News on Monday (11 May) local time that he is “serious” about considering making Venezuela the 51st US state. In response, interim Venezuelan President Delcy Rodriguez emphasised that her government has “never” considered becoming a US state. This was stated by Rodriguez after US President Donald Trump declared he is seriously considering making Venezuela a US state, following the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. “That 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 May 2026). 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. It is known that since taking over 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 for enacting reforms that open 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 in detention.