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President Donald Trump gave his opinion after Venezuela beat Italy in the World Baseball Classic semifinal on Monday.
Venezuela was down a run in the seventh inning when they rallied and put three runs on the board to finish the game with a 4-2 victory. Venezuela will now meet Team USA in the final of the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday evening.
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Team Venezuela celebrates after defeating Italy in a World Baseball Classic semifinal game, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
Trump teased statehood for Venezuela after the victory.
“Wow! Venezuela beat Italy tonight, 4-2, in the WBC (Baseball!) semifinals. They look really good. Good things are happening to Venezuela lately! I wonder what all the magic is for? STATE, #51, ANYONE?” he wrote in an article on Truth Social.
The new year began with the United States’ military conduct in Venezuela, which led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife. Both men were brought back to the United States as they faced federal weapons and narcoterrorism charges, among other crimes.
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President Donald Trump speaks during a board meeting of the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts in the East Room of the White House, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)
Since then, relations between the United States and Venezuela have thawed. An American flag was recently raised on the American Embassy building in Caracas for the first time in seven years.
Meanwhile, the World Baseball Classic final will pit the United States against Venezuela. The Americans are in the final for the third time after winning the championship once before. Venezuela is in the final for the first time.
Venezuelan pitcher Daniel Palencia reacts after the team defeated Italy in a World Baseball Classic semifinal game, Monday, March 16, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)
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The United States narrowly beat the Dominican Republic in the semifinals, which ended in a controversial three-strike call.
