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

Just moments aft Venezuela defeated the U.S. successful the 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, lone adding his initials. 

The station came a time aft Venezuela bushed Italy successful the WBC semifinal, erstwhile Trump sent an archetypal station that teased statehood for the South American state if it were to triumph the 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 the WBC (Baseball!) Semifinal. They are looking truly 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 proposition with 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 outgo trillions. We can't spend the 50 we person now!" 1 X idiosyncratic wrote successful response. 

Another idiosyncratic wrote, "It was conscionable a shot game. We don’t person to marque them a authorities conscionable truthful we tin accidental we won the World Baseball Classic!"

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

Since then, relations betwixt the U.S. and Venezuela person thawed. An American emblem was precocious raised implicit the U.S. Embassy gathering successful Caracas for the archetypal clip successful 7 years.

But Venezuela whitethorn person stirred choler among American shot fans with its 3-2 triumph connected Tuesday. It was Venezuela's archetypal 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 privation to marque my radical 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 but for indispensable workers.

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

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

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

The Associated Press contributed to this report.  

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