Trump, 79, Wants Country to Become 51st U.S. State

President Donald Trump is once again making headlines with a jaw-dropping proposal that has Washington buzzing and critics fuming.

According to Fox News anchor John Roberts, Trump revealed during a phone call Monday that he is seriously considering making Venezuela the 51st state of the United States — a move that would dramatically reshape the Western Hemisphere and hand America access to some of the world’s largest oil reserves.

“Venezuela loves Trump,” the president reportedly told Roberts, according to posts shared on X.

Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin added that Trump pointed to Venezuela’s estimated $40 trillion in oil reserves while discussing the idea, fueling even more speculation that energy dominance is at the center of the administration’s aggressive strategy.

The shocking comments come months after Trump launched one of the most controversial foreign operations in modern U.S. history.

Back in January, U.S. forces carried out a surprise overnight operation in Caracas that resulted in the capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and first lady Cilia Flores. Trump announced the operation himself in a fiery Truth Social post in the early morning hours, declaring that the U.S. had “successfully carried out a large scale strike” against the Venezuelan regime.

The move instantly sparked outrage from Democrats, world leaders, and even some Republicans who accused the administration of overstepping constitutional and international boundaries.

But Trump doubled down.

At a press conference shortly after the operation, the president declared that the United States would effectively oversee Venezuela until a “safe, proper and judicious transition” could take place.

Critics immediately accused Trump of using the operation as a cover for gaining control of Venezuela’s massive oil supply — and the White House did little to quiet those concerns.

Just days after the incursion, Trump announced that tens of millions of barrels of Venezuelan oil would be transferred to the United States under what he described as an “interim authority” arrangement. He later revealed that more than $100 million in Venezuelan gold had also been seized.

Supporters of the president argue the move is part of Trump’s broader “America First” strategy aimed at crushing hostile regimes while strengthening U.S. energy independence. Conservatives have long argued that Venezuela’s socialist government devastated a once-wealthy nation and created instability throughout the region.

Still, legal experts say Trump cannot simply declare Venezuela a state on his own.

Any path toward statehood would require approval from Congress — and likely cooperation from the Venezuelan people themselves.

Even so, Trump has repeatedly teased the idea in recent months. During the World Baseball Classic earlier this year, he openly joked online about adding Venezuela to the United States after the country’s impressive run in the tournament.

After Venezuela captured the championship, Trump posted just one word in all caps:

“STATEHOOD!!!”

The Venezuela comments are only the latest example of Trump’s expansionist rhetoric during his second term. The president has also floated ideas involving Greenland, Canada, the Panama Canal, Cuba, and even Gaza — proposals that have triggered fierce debate both at home and abroad.

Whether Trump is serious about Venezuela becoming America’s next state or simply stirring the political pot, one thing is clear: the president knows exactly how to keep the world watching.