Venezuela defeats U.S. to win WBC title; Trump mocks, "Become the 51st state"

According to Financial News, Donald John Trump, president of the United States of America, who had attacked Venezuela in January, referred to Venezuela as the United States of America’s "51st state" after it defeated the U.S. to win the 2026 World Baseball Classic (WBC).
On the 17th (local time), Trump posted on the social media platform Truth Social, writing "STATEHOOD." The previous day, he had commented on the WBC semifinal on Truth Social. Venezuela beat Italy 4–2 in the semifinal held on the 16th in Miami, Florida. Right after that game, he wrote, "They are playing really great baseball. Good things are happening in Venezuela these days," and added, "What is the secret behind this magical phenomenon? Maybe they’re about to be upgraded to the 51st state of America?"
On January 3, following a U.S. attack that led to heightened tensions with President Nicolás Maduro Moros, Venezuela faced the United States of America in the sixth edition of the WBC. Venezuela’s previous best result had been a semifinal appearance in 2009, but this time the team fought hard and secured a spot in the final. Once the Venezuela–U.S. matchup was set, the final was dubbed the "Maduro Derby."
On the 17th at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida, Venezuela defeated the United States of America 3–2 in the final. It was Venezuela’s first-ever WBC championship. The United States of America, which had last won the title in 2017 and was seeking another championship nine years later, fell short and had to settle for a second straight runner-up finish.
Omar López, manager of the Venezuela national baseball team, was asked about Trump’s social media comments before the game against the United States of America on the 17th. "I’ve been in baseball for 28 years, but to be honest, I don’t talk about politics," he said. "I’m here to talk about the Venezuela team, not to discuss the political situation in the world or in our country. We are alive, we are here, and we want to go out and win every game," he stated.
pjw@fnnews.com Park Jong-won Reporter