Despite Trump’s opposition, governor petitions Congress to admit Puerto Rico as a state
By THE STAR STAFF
Gov. Jenniffer González Colón signed legislation late last week formally petitioning President Donald Trump and the U.S. Congress to admit Puerto Rico as the 51st state, launching what she described as an unprecedented official request from the Puerto Rico government even as the effort faces long-standing opposition from Trump and skepticism within segments of the governing national Republican Party.
The measure, House Joint Resolution 391, became Joint Resolution 66-2026 following González Colón’s signature at La Fortaleza. The resolution asks Congress to exercise its authority under Article IV of the U.S. Constitution to admit Puerto Rico on equal footing with the states and directs that copies be sent to the president, congressional leaders and every member of Congress.
“Today, together with our legislators, we highlight a petition born from the will of our people: achieving full equality through statehood,” González Colón said during a news conference. “Puerto Ricans have contributed to the development of our nation, defended its freedoms and fulfilled the responsibilities of American citizenship. It is now up to Congress to address that will and exercise its constitutional authority to admit Puerto Rico as a state of the Union.”
The governor said the resolution is intended to replicate the process used historically by other U.S. territories seeking admission and argued that Puerto Rico has never before made a formal statehood request of this kind.
“This is an official claim of the government,” González Colón said. “The people of Puerto Rico already voted in favor of statehood, the Legislative Assembly received that mandate, evaluated it, and is making a formal request on behalf of the people of Puerto Rico.”
She added that under her administration’s approach, Puerto Ricans would still have an opportunity to vote on any admission terms ultimately established by Congress and the president.
“The final referendum would obviously be once the Congress of the United States and the president establish the terms of that admission, and the people of Puerto Rico would then accept or reject those terms,” she said.
While González Colón characterized the resolution as a historic step in advancing statehood, the initiative highlights a political contradiction within Republican ranks. Trump has repeatedly opposed Puerto Rico statehood, previously calling it “a disaster” and arguing that admitting Puerto Rico would shift the balance of power in Congress toward Democrats. He has also publicly criticized proposals to admit Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia as states, contending they would increase Democratic representation in the House and Senate.
Statehood has not been a central priority of the national Republican platform, with many Republicans expressing concerns about its potential political implications. González Colón, a Republican and longtime advocate of statehood, has been among the most prominent voices within the party pushing back against that resistance.
The announcement also triggered a new clash between González Colón and Resident Commissioner Pablo José Hernández Rivera, who questioned whether the administration’s focus should instead be on Puerto Rico’s infrastructure challenges.
“Status is not going to change; what has to change are the priorities of the government, which should focus more on fixing electricity and water than on status,” Hernández Rivera said in a written statement released during the event.
The governor responded sharply, accusing Hernández Rivera of repeatedly changing his position on Puerto Rico’s political status.
“That shows the resident commissioner’s constant shifting,” González Colón said. “One day he says one thing and the next day something else.”
She argued that the status issue cannot be separated from economic and infrastructure concerns, contending that federal funding tied to Puerto Rico’s territorial relationship has been critical to investments in water and energy systems.
“We handle all these issues simultaneously,” González Colón said, defending her administration’s efforts on statehood, water infrastructure and the electrical grid.
Questions also arose over the absence of Senate President Thomas Rivera Schatz and House Speaker Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nuñez from the signing ceremony. González Colón dismissed concerns, noting both lawmakers had participated in approving the measure and personally signed the legislation.
“Where they needed to be, which was at the time of approving this legislation, they were there,” she said.
The resolution comes as the United States marks the 250th anniversary year of the Declaration of Independence and represents the most direct appeal yet by González Colón’s administration for congressional action on Puerto Rico’s status. Whether the petition gains traction in Washington remains uncertain, particularly given Trump’s past opposition and the lack of broad Republican consensus on statehood.
