Cornered Donald Trump could launch an attack on Cuba to distract from his foreign policy disasters, a senior British MP has warned. Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, fears the unpredictable US President is eyeing up the island nation as his global deal-making falls apart.
She warned at a party conference fringe event: "I think he's going to go for Cuba." Speaking in Liverpool on Tuesday, she added: "We've seen the strangling of the Cuban economy and things getting really desperate. I think there will be random aggression."
US expert predicts brutal midterm beating
The explosive warning comes after a US expert predicted Trump faces a brutal beating in the upcoming November midterm elections. Josh Freed from the American think tank Third Way warned a losing Trump could go "unhinged" when Democrats take control.
"I think it's very likely he's going to go to Cuba," Freed said, revealing the US chief wants to "project power" after failing to deliver on his big promises.
Thornberry claims Trump is panicking
Thornberry claims the self-proclaimed master negotiator is panicking as his global agenda hits the skids. "He's heading for the midterms and he knows that he's got himself into a terrible trouble with Iran that he is incapable of getting out of," she said.
"He's this so-called great deal maker, but I honestly don't know where the evidence is of any great deals that he's made."
Previous clashes and advice for the PM
It's not the first time the fiery MP has torn into Trump. Thornberry previously branded him a "draft dodger" and blasted US military strikes in Venezuela as illegal "international anarchy." She warned his actions risk giving rogue states like Russia and China a free pass to invade their neighbors. Meanwhile, Trump's outbursts have turned so bizarre he recently branded Canada as "one of the worst countries in the entire world."
The latest transatlantic row comes as Defence Secretary Wes Streeting warned Britain and Europe to get out of their "defensive crouch" over US demands to boost military spending. New PM Andy Burnham is desperately trying to patch up relations with Washington after previous clashes over Iran airbases. Thornberry advised the PM to keep his cool when dealing with the unpredictable president.
"We're expecting to be kissed on the one hand and then slapped on the other, depending on what mood he's in," she said. "He's a bit fixated about us and we do live in his head. Andy needs to have a bit of a healthy distance, with a slight smile on his face and a slight shrug, but not let it get to him."
