President Donald Trump has floated the idea of granting statehood to Venezuela following their historic run to the World Baseball Classic final. In a Truth Social post, the President noted the nation’s recent success and asked, “STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE?”
Venezuela defeated Italy 4-2 in the semifinals to face Team USA in the championship on Tuesday. This sporting triumph occurs against a backdrop of major political changes earlier this year, when U.S. forces captured former leader Nicolas Maduro and his wife.
Since those events, diplomatic relations have thawed significantly, highlighted by the re-raising of the American flag at the embassy in Caracas. While the Americans seek their third title, Venezuela aims for its first-ever championship in this matchup.