US President Donald Trump has posted a map graphic on his Truth Social platform depicting Venezuela with an inset American flag and the label “51st State.”
The post, published while Trump was en route to China for a high-stakes summit, followed comments made to Fox News on Monday where he said he was “seriously considering” making the South American country a new state.
Venezuela’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, rejected the notion, stating her country had “never” considered becoming the 51st state, even after US forces captured deposed leader Nicolas Maduro in January.
“We love our process of independence, we love our heroes of independence, and we will continue defending the integrity, the sovereignty, the independence,” Rodriguez told reporters at the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Rodriguez has overseen a thawing of relations with Washington since taking over, passing reforms to reopen the mining and oil sectors to foreign companies.
However, she remains firm on sovereignty.
