U.S. President Donald Trump delivers remarks to a Mother’s Day reception for Gold Star mothers, whose children died while serving in the U.S. armed forces, and also to mothers the White House is describing as 'Angel Mothers’ who are the parents of people killed by immigrants in the U.S. illegally, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., May 8, 2026. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst
(Washington, DC) – President Trump is stirring global reaction after raising the idea of Venezuela becoming part of the United States.
The proposal immediately caught fire because Venezuela is one of the most oil-rich nations on Earth and has spent years at the center of political instability, economic collapse and U.S. foreign-policy battles.
Trump’s supporters see the idea as classic Trump: bold, unpredictable and designed to put America in a stronger position. They argue Venezuela’s resources and location make it strategically important, especially as the U.S. looks to counter hostile influence in Latin America.
Critics say the idea is wildly unrealistic and would face massive legal, diplomatic and political obstacles. Venezuela’s government is already rejecting the concept, and any statehood push would require far more than a presidential statement.
