Trump Says Venezuela Could Become a US State

VENEZUELA · UNITED STATES

Published Tuesday, 27 October, 6:06 p.m. ET · Source: White House and campaign event remarks, 27 October 2026; Venezuelan government statements; US Constitution, Article IV

What Trump Said

President Donald Trump said at a rally in Corpus Christi, Texas, on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, that Venezuela could become the 51st US state. He said it might do so “someday soon” and described an election for a governor in place of a president.

He turned to oil executive Harold Hamm and asked whether he liked the idea. The remarks were made in a campaign setting, and no formal proposal has been announced.

The Oil Behind the Remark

Trump spoke next to a shipment he described as 1 million barrels of Venezuelan oil, sent to the United States as a gift. He said it would cost taxpayers nothing and was the first of billions of barrels he expects the United States to receive.

The rally came as he campaigns for the midterm elections, with seven days to go and gasoline prices weighing on voters. Venezuelan oil has been a recurring theme of his appearances since US forces captured Nicolás Maduro on 3 January 2026.

Caracas and the Legal Reality

Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, rejected the idea in May, saying the country has no plans to become a US state. She took over after the capture of Maduro.

Under the US Constitution only Congress can admit a new state, and no bill or vote has been announced. Trump has floated the 51st-state idea before, in March and in a May television interview.

What It Means for You

For US readers the remark changes no law, but it shows how closely the White House ties Venezuela policy to oil supply and gasoline prices. Investors in energy companies should treat it as a political signal rather than a plan.

What Is Not Known

It is not known whether Trump was joking or signalling policy, and the White House has not published a plan. A reaction from Caracas to the 27 October remark has not been reported.

The terms of the oil shipment, including who owns the cargo and how it is paid for, were not explained.

Frequently Asked Questions

Did Trump formally propose making Venezuela a US state?

No. He raised the idea at a campaign rally, and no bill, treaty or vote has been announced.

Can Venezuela become a US state?

Only Congress can admit a new state under the US Constitution. Nothing of the kind has been started.

What has Venezuela said?

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said in May that Venezuela has no plans to become a US state. A reaction to the 27 October remark has not been reported.

Sources: White House and campaign event remarks, 27 October 2026; Venezuelan government statements; US Constitution, Article IV.

This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief