President Donald Trump has once again sparked controversy after saying on May 10 that he is “seriously considering” making Venezuela the 51st US state. The remarks come months after the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and amid growing US involvement in the country’s oil and mining sectors.
Trump’s comments follow years of escalating tensions between Washington and Caracas, which began during the presidency of Hugo Chávez and intensified in 2025. More recently, the US has reopened its embassy in Caracas, resumed direct flights, and expanded its military presence in the Caribbean, though Venezuelan interim leader Delcy Rodríguez has rejected any suggestion of annexation.
It should be noted that Trump, who has also floated annexation ideas involving Canada, Greenland, and Panama, cannot legally make Venezuela a US state without congressional approval and Venezuela’s consent.
Indeed, the capture of Nicolás Maduro earlier this year marked a dramatic turning point in the relationship between the two countries. To learn more, click through for a brief history of the often fraught relationship between the United States and Venezuela.