CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) 鈥� Twice this week, has expressed interest in turning into his country鈥檚 51st state. The latest came via a Truth Social post Tuesday with a map showing the South American country filled with the U.S. flag.
Previous statements doubting Venezuela鈥檚 sovereignty over the past 25 years have been met with immediate derision from senior government officials, including the president. The ruling party even organized demonstrations in the capital, Caracas, as recently as Jan. 3, hours after then-President Nicol谩s ., that included This time around, however, the government has mostly kept quiet, save for a brief statement to reporters Monday from acting President .
The approach demonstrates the balance Rodr铆guez must strike between external and internal politics following the January U.S. military attack in Caracas. The Trump administration has since implemented a phased plan to try to turn around the crisis-wrecked country and has forced Rodr铆guez鈥檚 political movement, Chavismo, to abandon the anti-U.S. sentiment that long accompanied its teachings.
鈥淭his is probably the most public and sharp manifestation of the government鈥檚 transactional, self-survival approach above everything else right now, above even that sort of basic tenet of Chavismo,鈥� said Christopher Sabatini, senior fellow for Latin America at the London-based Chatham House think tank. 鈥淚t鈥檚 better that they hold their tongue, not offend the U.S. right now. Why overreact to a ridiculous claim by Donald Trump?鈥�
Rodr铆guez on Monday told journalists that Venezuela had no plans to become the 51st U.S. state, but her comments were much more reserved than past presidential addresses deriding these types of U.S remarks. They came after Trump said he was 鈥渟eriously considering鈥� the move. Trump .
鈥淲e will continue to defend our integrity, our sovereignty, our independence, our history,鈥� Rodr铆guez said. Venezuela, she added, is 鈥渘ot a colony, but a free country.鈥�
The Trump administration stunned Venezuelans by choosing to work with Rodr铆guez, instead of the country鈥檚 political opposition, following Maduro’s ouster. She has since led cooperation with the administration鈥檚 phased plan, pitching her to international investors and opening its energy sector to private capital and international arbitration. Rodr铆guez has also replaced senior officials, including and attorney general.
Trump has praised her work, and his administration has lifted economic sanctions against her personally and eased sanctions against the country, though some still remain in place. The U.S. now also recognizes her as the 鈥渟ole鈥� head of state of Venezuela.
The U.S. stopped recognizing Maduro as Venezuela鈥檚 legitimate leader in 2019, the year after in a contest widely considered a sham as opposition parties and candidates were barred from participating.
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, were taken to New York to face drug trafficking charges after their Jan. 3 capture. Both have and remain jailed at a Brooklyn detention center.
In Caracas, some residents on Wednesday viewed the government鈥檚 response as submitting to Trump, but they also acknowledged that Rodr铆guez is not in a position to unleash Chavismo鈥檚 characteristic anti-U.S. propaganda.
鈥淪he knows that it鈥檚 wise not to engage in direct confrontation because she knows she鈥檚 bound to lose,鈥� college student Adonai Osoria said. 鈥淣ow, are there some who disagree, who don鈥檛 like it? Well, yes, of course. But I consider her reaction right now to be a common, understandable reaction.鈥�
Government supporters last showed their inflammatory attitude against the U.S. in the days after Maduro was captured, burning U.S. flags and carrying signs that read 鈥淕ringo go home.鈥�
Among the government鈥檚 strongest supporters across the country are the armed groups known as colectivos. The groups are a staple of pro-ruling party demonstrations. Local leader Jorge Navas characterized Trump鈥檚 comments as 鈥渋rresponsible acts of provocation鈥� and praised Rodr铆guez for her diplomatic response.
鈥淲e are bending, strategically, but we will not break,鈥� Navas said of Chavismo鈥檚 current approach to U.S. pressure. 鈥淲e continue to resist, that is, realistically, given the country鈥檚 economic situation.鈥�
___
Garcia Cano reported from Mexico City.
___
Follow AP鈥檚 coverage of Latin America and the Caribbean at
Copyright © 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, written or redistributed.
