Donald Trump has once again declared his intention to take over Cuba 'almost immediately,' following the conclusion of operations in Iran. Speaking at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday, the president 'jokingly' reaffirmed his goal of seizing the Caribbean nation while addressing attendees, including former Representative Dan Mica.
Trump's Remarks on Cuba
'And he comes from, originally, a place called Cuba, which we will be taking over almost immediately,' Trump said, according to Fox News. 'Cuba's got problems. We'll finish one first. I like to finish the job,' he declared. The island nation is currently grappling with continuous nationwide blackouts and an unprecedented economic crisis, exacerbated by an oil blockade imposed by the United States following the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump described a hypothetical scenario involving a US military presence offshore, suggesting that a massive American aircraft carrier returning from the Middle East could stop just outside Cuban waters. 'On the way back from Iran, we'll have one of our big - maybe the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier - the biggest in the world,' Trump said. 'We'll have that come in, stop about 100 yards offshore and they'll say, "Thank you very much, we give up."'
Executive Order Expands Sanctions
His comments coincided with the signing of an executive order expanding US sanctions on the Cuban government, citing threats to US national security and foreign policy. The Trump administration labeled the Cuban government an 'unusual and extraordinary threat,' pointing to repression, corruption, and alignment with rival foreign states. The White House emphasized that increased pressure is essential to counter hostile intelligence and security activity less than 100 miles from American shores.
Cuban officials have consistently rejected US demands for political and economic reforms, insisting that the country's socialist system is non-negotiable. President Miguel Diaz-Canel described the new sanctions as 'coercive,' imposing collective punishment on innocent citizens. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez added that the government would not be intimidated, stating, 'While the US government represses its own people in the streets, it seeks to punish ours, who are heroically resisting US imperialism's attacks.'
Senate Blocks Resolution on Military Action
Earlier this week, the US Senate blocked a resolution that would have prevented Trump from taking military action against Cuba without congressional approval. The Republican-led chamber voted 51–47, largely along party lines, against the measure. Trump's remarks mirrored earlier statements suggesting that Cuba would be 'next' after the Middle East, though no formal plan has ever been announced.
Last month, while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the president said, 'I do believe I'll be having the honor of taking Cuba. That's a big honor. Taking Cuba in some form. I mean, whether I free it, take it. Think I can do anything I want with it. You want to know the truth.'
Details of the Executive Order
The new executive order targets individuals and entities tied to Cuba's security forces and key sectors such as energy, finance, and mining. It allows for the blocking of assets linked to sanctioned individuals, prohibits Americans from doing business with them, and imposes travel restrictions on certain Cuban government-linked individuals unless exceptions are granted. Cuba's government, foreign companies operating on the island, and US allies in the region could face heightened pressure as rhetoric and economic penalties continue to escalate.
Trump's appearance at the Kravis Center marked his first public ballroom event since a suspected gunman, Cole Tomas Allen, 31, allegedly stormed the White House Correspondents' Dinner last weekend. Tickets were limited to members and guests of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, a nonpartisan political group hosting Trump as part of its 50th anniversary. Protesters gathered outside the event.
During his speech, Trump moved rapidly between topics, including the war in Iran, Mexico, dogs, and Tom Cruise. He joked about renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the 'Gulf of Trump' and praised plans to rename Palm Beach International Airport as President Donald J. Trump International Airport. He also revived claims of winning the 2020 election and touted efforts to lower weight-loss drug prices. Trump ended his speech to a standing ovation and, when asked about the most bizarre thing he had witnessed as president, declined to answer, saying, 'If I told him what the most bizarre thing was, I'd have to probably resign in about three minutes as I walked off the stage.'
