Trump raises eyebrows with 'statehood' comment after Venezuela beats the US in World Baseball Classic

Just moments aft Venezuela defeated nan U.S. successful nan World Baseball Classic final, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to nonstop a elemental one-word station that divided American fans. 

"STATEHOOD!!!" Trump wrote, only adding his initials. 

The station came a time aft Venezuela hit Italy successful nan WBC semifinal, erstwhile Trump sent an first station that teased statehood for nan South American state if it were to triumph nan championship. 

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The Venezuela squad celebrates aft defeating Italy astatine a World Baseball Classic semifinal crippled successful Miami, Florida, connected March 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

"Wow! Venezuela defeated Italy tonight, 4-2, successful nan WBC (Baseball!) Semifinal. They are looking really great. Good things are happening to Venezuela lately! I wonderment what this magic is each about? STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE?" Trump wrote Monday evening.

Trump appeared to double-down connected that proposal pinch his one-word station Tuesday nighttime aft Venezuela's victory. 

Some followers were encouraging of Trump's bold suggestion. 

But immoderate followers were not arsenic encouraging. 

"That's a unspeakable thought that would costs trillions. We can't spend nan 50 we person now!" 1 X personification wrote successful response. 

Another personification wrote, "It was conscionable a shot game. We don’t person to make them a authorities conscionable truthful we tin opportunity we won nan World Baseball Classic!"

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The caller twelvemonth started pinch nan U.S. conducting a subject cognition successful Venezuela, which led to nan seizure of Nicolas Maduro and his wife. The 2 were brought backmost to nan U.S., arsenic nan 2 faced national weapons and narco-terrorism charges, among different crimes.

Since then, relations betwixt nan U.S. and Venezuela person thawed. An American emblem was precocious raised complete nan U.S. Embassy building successful Caracas for nan first clip successful 7 years.

But Venezuela whitethorn person stirred anger among American shot fans pinch its 3-2 triumph connected Tuesday. It was Venezuela's first ever WBC title.

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"My state needs that championship," prima outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. said, wiping tears from his eyes. "I conscionable want to make my group proud. That’s what I did today."

Venezuela acting President Delcy Rodríguez declared Wednesday a National Day of Joy and made it a non-working vacation isolated from for basal workers.

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Eugenio Suárez of Team Venezuela reacts aft hitting an RBI double against Team United States during nan ninth inning astatine loanDepot parkland connected March 17, 2026 successful Miami, Florida. (Al Bello/Getty Images)

"They were pinch america present successful our hearts," Venezuela skipper Salvador Perez said of his countrymen. "The World Series, arsenic you each know, is 1 of nan astir important championships successful nan awesome leagues, but erstwhile you conflict for your country, that goes beyond. That feeling, nan state wherever you were calved and raised, nan sacrifices made by our parents, those group that helped us, that’s why this intends a batch to maine and to Venezuela."

Repeatedly during nan tournament, Venezuelan players described nan squad arsenic a family, and brothers Willson and William Contreras went connected nan podium together to person their medals and singing nan Venezuelan anthem, "Gloria al Bravo Pueblo (Glory to nan Brave People)."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.  

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