Trump Again Posts Map Depicting Venezuela as 51st U.S. State

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has again shared a map that controversially depicts Venezuela as the 51st state of the United States, colored in the American flag's motif. The image was posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, marking the second instance of such a provocative display.

This latest post follows Trump's assertion on July 27 that the U.S. was earning "billions and billions of dollars" from Venezuelan oil sales. Financial Times reported that the U.S. has indeed received over $13 billion from Venezuelan oil sales this year. Under new agreements established after a change in leadership in Caracas, revenues from these oil sales are deposited into accounts controlled by Washington.

The reappearance of the map is notable given the complex political and economic relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela. Earlier in the year, in January, reports emerged of a U.S. Air Force operation in Caracas that allegedly led to the capture and removal of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, who were reportedly taken to a New York prison.

Maduro faces multiple charges in the U.S., including leading the "Cartel of the Suns," designated a terrorist organization, and alleged involvement in drug trafficking conspiracies with Colombian groups. He is also accused of trading diplomatic passports and using criminal organizations to eliminate rivals. Trump's repeated use of such imagery raises questions about his intentions and the potential implications for U.S.-Venezuela relations.

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billions and billions of dollars