Trump Calls for Venezuela Statehood After U.S. Baseball Loss

The former president made a bizarre social media post after Venezuela defeated the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic final.

Mar. 18, 2026 at 6:03am

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After Venezuela defeated the United States 3-2 in the final of the 2026 World Baseball Classic, former President Donald Trump took to social media to call for Venezuela to become the 51st U.S. state. Trump had previously made similar proposals about adding Canada and Greenland as states, despite lacking support from those countries. The victory was celebrated in Venezuela, where the acting president declared a national holiday.

Why it matters

Trump's calls for Venezuela to become a U.S. state are seen as highly unlikely and politically charged, given the ongoing tensions between the two countries since Trump's 2019 military intervention that led to the detention of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The baseball game victory has become a source of national pride for Venezuela, further complicating the already strained relationship between the two nations.

The details

Venezuela defeated the United States 3-2 in the final of the 2026 World Baseball Classic in Miami. Third baseman Eugenio Suárez was credited with pulling off the win for Venezuela. After the game, Trump posted on social media calling for Venezuela to become the 51st U.S. state, repeating a similar proposal he had made earlier in the week after Venezuela defeated Italy in the semifinals. The acting Venezuelan president, Delcy Rodríguez, declared Wednesday a national holiday so that Venezuelans could celebrate the victory.

  • Venezuela defeated the U.S. 3-2 in the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday, March 18, 2026.
  • Trump posted his call for Venezuela statehood on social media shortly before 11 p.m. on Tuesday, March 18, 2026.
  • The acting Venezuelan president declared Wednesday, March 19, 2026 a national holiday to celebrate the victory.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who made the controversial social media posts calling for Venezuela to become the 51st U.S. state.

Eugenio Suárez

The Venezuelan third baseman who was credited with leading his team to victory over the United States in the World Baseball Classic final.

Delcy Rodríguez

The acting president of Venezuela who declared a national holiday to celebrate the country's World Baseball Classic victory over the United States.

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What they’re saying

“Nobody believed in Venezuela but now we win the championship. This is a celebration for all the Venezuelan country.”

— Eugenio Suárez, Venezuelan third baseman

“I want in the name of our people, of the government of Venezuela, to thank and hug our players.”

— Delcy Rodríguez, Acting President of Venezuela

What’s next

The Trump administration, which is now overseeing Venezuela's economy, will likely face increased pressure to respond to Venezuela's World Baseball Classic victory and Trump's calls for the country to become a U.S. state.

The takeaway

Trump's bizarre social media posts calling for Venezuela to become a U.S. state highlight the ongoing political tensions between the two countries, which have only been exacerbated by Venezuela's upset victory over the United States in the World Baseball Classic. This victory has become a source of national pride for Venezuela, further complicating an already strained relationship.