Trump calls Venezuela ‘51st state’ of US:Interim President Rodriguez says sovereignty, independence will be defended

US President Donald Trump has sparked a diplomatic controversy after sharing a graphic on Truth Social showing Venezuela as the “51st state” of the United States. The post came while Trump was travelling to China for a high-level summit. The move follows his earlier remarks to Fox News, where he said he was “seriously considering” integrating Venezuela into the US, citing the country’s vast oil reserves. Trump has also previously claimed that Venezuela’s resources and political alignment make it strategically important for Washington. Venezuela rejects proposal, asserts sovereignty Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez strongly rejected the idea, stating that the country “has no plans” to become a US state. Speaking at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague amid a territorial dispute with Guyana, she reaffirmed that Venezuela would continue to defend its “integrity, sovereignty, independence and history,” calling it a “free nation, not a colony.” Political background and response Rodríguez has overseen improved relations with the United States since taking office, including reforms opening Venezuela’s oil and mining sectors to foreign investment. However, she maintained that national sovereignty remains non-negotiable amid rising political tensions triggered by Trump’s remarks. Uranium removed in joint operation Separately, the US Department of Energy announced that 13.5 kg of enriched uranium was safely removed from a research reactor in Venezuela in a joint operation involving the US, UK, and Venezuelan authorities. Officials described the operation as a “global security success,” stating that the material was securely transported by land and sea to North America. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed the safe transfer, calling it a “complex and sensitive operation.” ​