Trump renews call for Venezuela to become 51st US state

President Donald Trump has repeated his call for Venezuela to become the 51st US state, saying the South American country could one day be governed by a governor rather than a president.

Speaking after highlighting oil supplies from Venezuela, Trump said the country would become prosperous and added: “Maybe someday soon, it will become a prosperous 51st state.” He continued: “That’s possible. Let’s make it the 51st state.”

Trump also addressed oil tycoon Harold Hamm, who was in the crowd, and said: “Now let’s make it, Harold, the 51st state. You like that? I do. I do.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the president said Venezuela had sent 1 million barrels of oil to the United States as a “gift”. He was expected to oversee the tanker’s arrival in Texas alongside Marco Rubio, who is secretary of state and also serving as national security adviser.

Trump said the crude oil would be processed at refineries in Texas. A State Department official said Rubio was travelling with Trump in his national security adviser role, not as secretary of state, adding that time on the plane would allow him to discuss “all kinds of issues” with the president.

The remarks are not the first time Trump has floated the idea of Venezuela joining the United States. Earlier this year, he said he was “seriously considering” making Venezuela a state, and he has also made similar comments about Canada.

Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez rejected the prospect in May, telling journalists the country had no plans to become a US state. “We will continue to defend our integrity, our sovereignty, our independence, our history,” she said.

Rodríguez took power in January after a US military operation removed then-President Nicolás Maduro, according to the report.