Trump Proposes Statehood for Venezuela After Baseball Victory

The former president's plan would grant citizenship to millions, including former dictator Maduro

Mar. 19, 2026 at 1:49am

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Former President Donald Trump has proposed granting statehood to Venezuela after the country's national baseball team defeated the United States in the World Baseball Classic. Trump's plan would make all 28 million Venezuelan citizens, including imprisoned former dictator Nicolas Maduro, American citizens. The proposal has been met with widespread skepticism and criticism.

Why it matters

Trump's statehood proposal for Venezuela is seen as an impractical and politically motivated move, raising concerns about his continued efforts to reshape global affairs to his own benefit, even after leaving office. The plan would grant citizenship to millions, including individuals with criminal records, and could have significant geopolitical and economic implications.

The details

After Venezuela's upset victory over the U.S. in the World Baseball Classic, Trump took to social media to call for Venezuelan "statehood". This would make all 28 million Venezuelan citizens, including imprisoned former dictator Nicolas Maduro, American citizens. Trump had previously accused Venezuela of "emptying its prisons and psychiatric facilities" into the U.S., a claim that has been debunked. Of the 240 Venezuelans deported by the U.S. to the notorious CECOT prison in El Salvador, only 36 had criminal records, and just 9 were charged with violent crimes.

  • On March 19, 2026, Trump responded to Venezuela's WBC victory by calling for Venezuelan "statehood".
  • In September 2025, Trump had demanded that Venezuela "immediately accept all of the prisoners, and people from mental institutions" that he claimed had been "forced into the USA".

The players

Donald Trump

The former president of the United States who is proposing Venezuelan statehood.

Nicolas Maduro

The former dictator of Venezuela who is currently imprisoned in the U.S. on drug trafficking charges.

Delcy Rodriguez

A Maduro henchwoman whom Trump has installed as Venezuela's acting president.

María Corina Machado

A Venezuelan opposition leader who was barred from running for president in 2024 and was awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize for her work promoting democracy in Venezuela.

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What they’re saying

“STATEHOOD!!!”

— Donald Trump

“Delcy Rodríguez, who is the President of Venezuela, is doing a great job, and working with U.S. Representatives very well. The Oil is beginning to flow, and the professionalism and dedication between both Countries is a very nice thing to see!”

— Donald Trump

The takeaway

Trump's statehood proposal for Venezuela appears to be a politically motivated and impractical move that raises concerns about his continued efforts to reshape global affairs to his own benefit, even after leaving office. The plan would grant citizenship to millions, including individuals with criminal records, and could have significant geopolitical and economic implications.