President Trump Reacts To Venezuela Defeating The United States In The World Baseball Classic Championship

This was a tough loss for the United States baseball team.

Venezuela defeated the United States at the World Baseball Classic on Tuesday night.

In a close game, Venezuela held off the United States for a 3-2 victory.

Following the game, President Trump took to Truth Social and issued one word.

That word was “STATEHOOD!!!”

Take a look:

President Trump reacts after Venezuela defeat of the United States in the World Baseball Classic final by saying statehood. pic.twitter.com/sIBsOyPruz

— The Breaking Minutes (@BreakingMinutes) March 18, 2026

ESPN reported more on the heartbreaking loss for Team USA:

With one swing the nervous energy coursing through LoanDepot Park on Tuesday night flipped to pandemonium.

Bryce Harper had upended the World Baseball Classic final’s momentum for Team USA with one swat in the eighth inning, tying Venezuela when the Americans were flat all night long. The pro-Venezuela crowd went quiet. That didn’t last long.

After Luis Arráez drew a walk to lead off the ninth inning, and after pinch runner Javier Sanoja barely stole second base, Eugenio Suárez swatted the most important hit of his career, a go-ahead double that proved the difference in Venezuela’s 3-2 victory.

Daniel Palencia then sealed Venezuela’s first WBC championship by retiring the American side in order, closing the door with a 99.7 mph fastball to strike out Roman Anthony and ignite an emotional celebration as a stunned Team USA, three years after losing 3-2 to Japan in the WBC final, watched.

Here were some of the highlights:

BRYCE HARPER TIES THE GAME FOR TEAM USA! pic.twitter.com/zRVBaURBTm

— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 18, 2026

TEAM VENEZUELA 🇻🇪
CHAMPS 🏆#WORLDBASEBALLCLASSIC pic.twitter.com/1hDTJWcI5V

— World Baseball Classic (@WBCBaseball) March 18, 2026

Tuesday night wasn’t the first time Trump hinted Venezuela should gain statehood.

Fox News reported he called for Venezuela to become the 51st state after Venezula’s baseball team defeated Italy earlier in the week:

President Donald Trump weighed in after Venezuela topped Italy in their World Baseball Classic semifinal matchup on Monday.

Venezuela was down a run in the seventh inning when they rallied and put three runs on the board and closed out the game with a 4-2 win. Venezuela will now meet Team USA in the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday night.

Trump teased statehood for Venezuela after the victory.

“Wow! Venezuela defeated Italy tonight, 4-2, in the WBC (Baseball!) Semifinal. They are looking really great. Good things are happening to Venezuela lately! I wonder what this magic is all about? STATEHOOD, #51, ANYONE?” he wrote in a post on Truth Social.

The new year started with the U.S. conducting a military operation in Venezuela, which led to the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife. The two were brought back to the U.S., as the two faced federal weapons and narco-terrorism charges, among other crimes.

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