No Joke: Trump is considering making a 51st state and it isn't Canada

WASHINGTON—President Donald Trump said on Monday that he’s serious about officially making Venezuela and its massive oil reserves part of the United States. As former alleged President Joe Biden says, "no joke."

The President spoke with Fox News anchor John Roberts,  saying that he is “seriously considering a move to make Venezuela the 51st state.” Trump emphasized Venezuela’s oil reserves and discussed his administration’s focus on the South American country, adding, “Venezuela loves Trump.”

Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s acting president, responded to Trump’s remark and told reporters that Venezuela wants to remain independent.

“That would never have been considered, because if there is one thing we Venezuelan men and women have, it is that we love our independence process, we love our heroes and heroines of independence,” she said. 

Rodríguez added that her government would continue to work with the United States in “a diplomatic cooperation agenda.”

For Venezuela to become a U.S. state, Congress would have to pass a law via the Admissions Clause of the Constitution, which would then require the president’s signature. Former territories, such as Alaska and Hawaii, also held referendums for residents to vote on statehood before they became part of the union.

Trump floated Venezuelan statehood as his administration continues to work with the country’s acting president after dictator Nicolás Maduro was captured by U.S. forces and brought back to the United States to stand trial on narco-terrorism charges. Trump suggested in March that he was pleased with Rodríguez as oil flows from Venezuela to the United States and Europe, with the South American country’s exports hitting a seven-year high last month. 

The U.S. Treasury Department is currently managing the proceeds from Venezuelan oil sales in specialized accounts.

Since Trump took major military and economic action on Venezuela in early January, the United States has become the top destination for Venezuelan oil, with around 445,000 barrels per day exported to America in April, Reuters reported. Last month, Chevron said that the increased oil imports from Venezuela are helping mitigate rising fuel costs due to the war in Iran.

Andrew Walz, Chevron’s president of global refining, said the oil imports are helping “bring revenue to Venezuela” and “helping Americans.”

The Trump administration also reopened commercial flights to Venezuela late last month, with direct flights to Caracas set to become available at major airports across the United States in the coming months.

Trump first hinted at making Venezuela the 51st state in a Truth Social post in March when he wrote, “Good things are happening to Venezuela lately! I wonder what this magic is all about? STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE?”

While Trump claims that Venezuelan statehood is a serious consideration inside the Oval Office, the president has often suggested that the United States would take over foreign countries or territories.

As the president pressured Canada on trade last year, he regularly suggested that America’s neighbor could become the 51st state. He has also pushed for Greenland to become a U.S. territory for national security purposes and suggested that the United States could take over Gaza following the Israel-Hamas war.

Thank you for following Brain Flushings. Please take time to simply check out the sponsors on this page--it's one way to support my work. Of course, you can Buy Me A Coffee if you want to support me directly. Finally, don't be afraid to subscribe if you enjoy the blog--it's free, and worth the cost.

Tweet

Trump Cancels ‘Second Wave Of Attacks’ As Venezuela Frees Political Prisoners Trump is set to meet with American oil companies on Friday.

President Trump just announced that he's canceling the previously expected second wave of attacks on Venezuela. He says it's because they're showing real cooperation, especially with the release of large numbers of political prisoners.

Venezuela is "releasing large numbers of political prisoners as a sign of 'Seeking Peace.'" This is a very important and smart gesture. The U.S.A. and Venezuela are working well together, especially as it pertains to rebuilding, in a much bigger, better, and more modern form, their oil and gas infrastructure. "Because of this cooperation, I have cancelled the previously expected second Wave of Attacks, which looks like it will not be needed, however, all ships will stay in place for safety and security purposes."

Trump posted this early Friday morning on Truth Social, and it's huge. The prisoners to be released reportedly include key opposition figures like Biagio Pilieri, who worked on María Corina Machado's presidential campaign, and Enrique Márquez, the 2024 presidential candidate. Activists and journalists are also among those freed.

"Consider this a gesture by the Bolivarian [Venezuelan] government, which is broadly intended to seek peace," said Jorge Rodríguez, president of the Venezuelan National Assembly.

Trump also made it clear that American energy companies are ready to step up in a big way. He expects at least $100 billion in investments to help rebuild Venezuela's oil industry, and executives from major U.S. oil firms are heading to the White House today for a meeting. A White House official confirmed the session is set for 2:30 local time, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Energy Secretary Chris Wright, and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum all in attendance.

"Following the announcement of President Trump's historic energy deal with Venezuela, American oil companies will come to the White House to discuss investment opportunities that will restore Venezuelan oil infrastructure," said White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers. "The American people, energy companies, and the Venezuelan people will all greatly benefit from these new, unprecedented investments in Venezuela’s oil infrastructure thanks to President Trump."

More than a dozen companies are expected, including reps from Chevron, Exxon, ConocoPhillips, Valero, Marathon, and Shell. Trump has said these American companies could get reimbursed by the government for their investments or earn big revenue straight from the oil production.

This is tremendous progress after the recent operation that captured Maduro. We're seeing cooperation, prisoner releases, and massive opportunities for American energy dominance. America First is delivering results!

If you enjoy Brain Flushings and would like to subscribe or Buy Me a Coffee, and check out the sponsors on this page, I would appreciate it, as it supports my work and my coffee drinking habit. No pressure and subscribing is free.

Tweet

Biden, a cheerleader for Venezuela: eases sanctions, encourages oil drilling

If you thought President Biden is an ineffective leader you would be mistaken. The problem is, his effectiveness isn't about helping the United States, it's about helping the socialist country of Venezuela. Although the Biden administration is killing America's oil industry, raising prices at the pump, he is hoping to make Venezuela great again.

So Biden is lifting some of the sanctions on Nicolás Maduro, one of the worst socialist tyrants on earth, and Venezuela's oil giant PDVSA, a company which Russia mainly owns. This will allow more oil to flow from Venezuela and be exported globally where energy is depleting at a frightening rate.

Now it's safe to assume that all of the crap Venezuela has pulled for eight years is just water under the bridge and the US will not have to go to the trouble of removing all that filthy oil from beneath our own soil. Get ready for negotiations and for us to draw the short end of the ugly stick.

The Treasury Department is permitting Chevron to resume “limited” energy production in Venezuela after years of sanctions that have dramatically curtailed oil and gas profits that have flowed to Maduro’s government. 

Earlier this year the Treasury Department again allowed the California-based Chevron and other U.S. companies to perform basic upkeep of wells it operates jointly with state-run PDVSA.

Under the new policy, profits from the sale of energy would be directed to paying down debt owed to Chevron, rather than providing profits to PDVSA.

So with all our untapped oil and Biden's refusal to allow the US to drill, we are instead allowing the Maduro dictatorship to cash in big time. It's funny [not] how Biden is making nicey nice to Maduro in spite of our standing with the legitimate president of Venezuela, Juan Guaido who was jailed for having won the presidential election over the current scumcrumpet heading the country. The same scumcrumpet who put many Americans in prison over the years he was in power.

But it's all politics for The Big Guy, just like it was all politics for him with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia who he once called a "pariah" after the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Biden pretends to be tough, but he's like the pimply-face kid making internet threats on his keyboard.

Now that we're giving Venezuela the go ahead on oil production, Russia stands to gain and the war in Ukraine will not bode well for the home front.

But it's too late. The Treasury Department already authorized Chevron to increase drilling in Venezuela. 

[H/T Fox Business]

* * *

Hey folks, consider subscribing to Brain Flushings and please check out the ads on these pages. It costs nothing to subscribe and it's worth every penny. And remember, every time you click on an ad, you help in the fight against Critical Race Theory, ignorance, The New York Times, and bovine flatulence. You also help me and the orphans. Thanks.

* * *

Joe Biden is not like your grandpa. He isn't the sweet, exaggerating old man who you smile at, wonder where that odor is coming from, and take with a grain of salt. He is a dim witted narcissist who has always wanted to be President and has no idea what he's doing, and even where he's at. He will do anything, say anything and lie with a smile, only to help himself.

He is a danger

Tweet