1) Hold a referendum. If a huge majority want to secede, I don’t see why they can’t be allowed to peacefully do so. After all, countries like the Czech Republic and Slovakia did so peacefully. Singapore seceded from Malaysia over 50 years ago and both countries are thriving.
2) There’s a new entity that just voted to join the union — PUERTO RICO.
So, the USA will still have 50 states and the flag will not change.
3) For that matter, if Obama really wants 57 states, I can see the following scenarios : Divide California into 3 states. Allow Long Island ( which has an existing secession movement ) to secede from new York State. Divide Pennsylvania into West Penn and East Penn (Where Philly is located ). Heck, if we can have a West Virginia and a North and South Dakota and North and South Carolina, I don’t see how we can’t have something similar elsewhere.
No need for a separate East Penn. Just cede the Obama voting cluster counties from Philadelphia to Scranton along the NJ line to New Jersey.
New Jersey is a pissant state whose main economic function is to serve as a garbage dump and warehouse for NYC. The East Penn area as described would be a natural fit.
Without Scranton and Philly in the mix, the rest of us could easily outvote Pittsburgh and Erie.
Split Illinois into “Chicago” and “Real Illinois”.