Donald Trump Says US Will Take Over Cuba 'Almost Immediately'
Source: Newsweek
Published May 02, 2026 at 06:03 AM EDT updated May 02, 2026 at 06:04 AM EDT
President Donald Trump said Friday during remarks in Florida that the United States would take over Cuba almost immediately, suggesting an aircraft carrier could be positioned offshore after the conflict in Iran. The comments came the same day Trump signed an executive order significantly expanding U.S. sanctions on the Cuban government and its affiliates. Cubas government, foreign companies doing business on the island and U.S. allies in the region could face heightened pressure amid a sharp escalation in rhetoric and economic penalties. Newsweek has contacted the White House for clarity on what Trump meant.
Why It Matters
Trumps remarks add a dramatic edge to an already intensifying U.S. pressure campaign against Havana, which his administration has framed as a national security threat. While the presidents comments appeared partly joking, they followed concrete policy action in the form of broadened sanctions.
Remarks Made During Florida Event
Speaking at the long‑running, nonpartisan Forum Club of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, during a Friday evening event on May 1, 2026, Trump said the United States would be taking over Cuba almost immediately, a comment that drew attention for its timing and tone.
He made the remark while addressing the crowd and referencing Cubas ongoing political and economic problems, according to Fox News. Trump went on to paint a hypothetical scenario involving U.S. military presence offshore, saying an American aircraft carrier could stop just outside Cuban waters. According to Trump, the show of force alone would be enough to compel surrender, adding that he prefers to finish a job.
Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-us-take-over-cuba-11905781
RELATED - https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143659392
sakabatou
(46,240 posts)Miguelito Loveless
(5,848 posts)This has been shown with all of the war crimes to date, so unlikely to change now.
Ray Bruns
(6,607 posts)But Im sure hes too stupid to understand it.
UpInArms
(55,212 posts)of the United States?
This is NOT NORMAL!
How about the headline:
Acting as a Marauding Attacking Nation, TFG Announced His Plan to Overthrow a Sovereign Nation
and the sub header of:
With the backing of a republican majority, the United States has become a Rogue Nation
Evolve Dammit
(21,807 posts)Miguelito Loveless
(5,848 posts)Make money this way. Nthey are owned by billionaires who also own Trump.
Polybius
(22,051 posts)Perhaps TCG (The Current Guy)?
UpInArms
(55,212 posts)He will always be that
BWdem4life
(3,074 posts)The sick fuck.
Prof. Toru Tanaka
(2,953 posts)That fucking guy, although I prefer to use TSF.
Skittles
(172,463 posts)ESPCECIALLY a woman or POC
LymphocyteLover
(10,031 posts)GiqueCee
(4,570 posts)...it's because the M$M is owned by Trump-humping oligarchs who just want to keep their useful idiot occupied with his vengeful fantasies, and leaves them alone to rape and pillage America until there's nothing left but a puddle of blood and bone in the ashes of a once-great nation.
Bluestocking
(740 posts)Cuba becomes part of the US. All Cuban nationals living in Cuba and outside Cuba become US citizens. He really does not think things through.
popsdenver
(2,510 posts)that Cuba would make an incredible five star resort island and the perfect place for a Trump Hotel/Resort with a number of Trump Golf Courses......The Uber rich would be the only ones to go there, and he could provide the massive security needed for them.
All of the Cuban citizens could be converted to be grounds keepers and domestic help for lower wages than even in the U.S. at his golf course resort properties.......
The top 1% and U.S. Corporations could set up residences and headquarters there, and completely evade not only Income taxes, or corporate taxes, but also do away with the massive expense of having to pay all of the tax accountants and tax lawyers to prepare them......
The best part is, that all the 1%ers will be safely protected over there if all hell breaks loose here in the U.S.....and Trump will surround the island with the U.S. Navy aircraft carriers protecting them in their island fortress......
All the FEMA money will go towards taking care of Cuba in case of a hurricane....The Uber Rich will once again be able to smoke Cuban Cigars legally, the up side is endless for Trump and Republican Oligarchs....
chicoescuela
(3,153 posts)Deuxcents
(27,477 posts)Cuba will be closer to home and can get started before Gaza is ready for demolition and resorts
IronLionZion
(51,491 posts)Cuba has fewer options to fight back. He's desperate for a victory.
dexdah
(65 posts)Its called guerrilla warfare. I imagine they wouldnt mind taking out some imperialists after all these years of embargo.
sinkingfeeling
(57,942 posts)Bengus81
(10,309 posts)murielm99
(33,042 posts)for several reasons. One of them was fighting a war on two fronts.
raccoon
(32,441 posts)Ray Bruns
(6,607 posts)GiqueCee
(4,570 posts)Is Trumpleforeskin's favorite excuse for doing anything illegal and/or morally repugnant. But anyone with a functional prefrontal cortex knows that the most dangerous national security threat facing America today is the lying, thieving, child-molesting traitor, Donald J. Trump.
not just him, but the entire Republican Criminal Syndicate CABAL........They will just install someone worse, if an MI or stroke causes Trump's demise.......As a bonus, they would then have someone who wasn't serving a second master: Putin
Hope22
(4,840 posts)Trump files .lock em up!
dexdah
(65 posts)Did he speak with Vlad about this?
Callie1979
(1,387 posts)For the Ford (I think) it's already the longest it's ever been.
Initech
(109,061 posts)And they're abusing the military to satisfy some bizarre apocalypse fetish.
durablend
(9,338 posts)pat_k
(13,728 posts)https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=21212188
JohnnyRingo
(20,970 posts)Not surprising that DJT Enterprises is moving into the "predictability market" for gambling
SidneyR
(228 posts)Attacking Cuba would be a war of aggression, completely illegal.
Bayard
(30,096 posts)Venezuela, Iran, Cuba--all illegal wars, not approved by Congress. He's like Wack-A-Mole--smack him down in once place, he pops up somewhere else.
Chasstev365
(8,025 posts)not a texan
(97 posts)That must be the reason that we need another war
patphil
(9,175 posts)So now he wants to find another soft enemy, like Venezuela to slap around.
If he attacks, he may find that Cuba may be easy to take, but hard to hold onto.
This looks like a play for the Cuban American vote. Or perhaps another bumbling, mumbling, rambling rattle of a brain that's circling the drain one last time.
sop
(19,103 posts)"President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez of Cuba on Saturday responded with stark and defiant words to the latest attacks coming from US President Donald Trump, who on Friday signed a new executive order authorizing even more aggressive sanctions against the island nation and later threatened to invade the country."
'The President of the United States escalates his threats of military aggression against Cuba to a dangerous and unprecedented scale,' said Díaz-Canel in a statement. 'The international community must take note and, together with the people of the United States, determine whether such a drastic criminal act will be allowed to satisfy the interests of a small but wealthy and influential group, driven by desires for revenge and domination.' "
'No aggressor, no matter how powerful, will find surrender in Cuba,' he added. If Trump were to attack the country, the Cuban president said, 'he will find a people determined to defend sovereignty and independence in every inch of the national territory.' "
https://www.commondreams.org/news/cuba-responds-to-trump-invasion-threat
Doodley
(12,043 posts)rhiannon55
(2,793 posts)He is such an insane narcissistic asshole that hes always looking for a target to bully. I hate him with the heat of a thousand suns.
Jack Valentino
(5,199 posts)for the Trump threats against Cuba! ---
but likely many of the other far-right administration members
are in agreement with it!
sop
(19,103 posts)Marco's old hardline anti-Castro backers have been dreaming of "returning" (Volveremos!) to Cuba for more than sixty years. It's all they talk and write about on Miami's Spanish language rightwing media. They actually believe the pre-Castro Cuba they fondly remember still exists, and fully expect their confiscated properties will be returned to them. It will be absolute chaos.
Jack Valentino
(5,199 posts)isn't he? since we still haven't 'taken over' Iran yet, either.....
Fucking demented moronic maniac who has already spent
most of our military's ammunition against Iran.....
SMALL HANDS OFF CUBA! I think JESUS would agree with me!
("Blessed are the peacemakers...."
BWdem4life
(3,074 posts)I know, nothing to make light of..
bmichaelh
(1,237 posts)Not only does Trump's vocabulary exist at a 4th grade level, he does not use the right word.
.
HighFired49
(509 posts)Can't locate the article right now, but he said that he would take Cuba when he finished with Iran. I'll also bet that he will eventually move against Greenland.
He has a steel trap mind. Once he dreams up stupid crap to do he can't leave it alone, and won't be talked out of it since of course, he is never wrong. What really pisses me off are the R's who just sit on their hands and gawk as if they have no power to control this mess!!!! Impeachment, any one?
BumRushDaShow
(171,450 posts)He may take Panama before that (for the canal) as there is $$$$ to be made.
justsomeguy01
(50 posts)It's not inconceivable that in the near future the entire world unites against the US and approves of a major nuclear power unleashing a small nuke against a gathering of top Republicans in DC or Mar-a-lago.
Thomas Hurt
(13,990 posts)The new Batista
dalton99a
(95,011 posts)Deuxcents
(27,477 posts)We would have trade and tourism, they would be able to feed and care for themselves. Their medical research and education is highly valued and their doctors are all over Caribbean islands. We have suffocated Cuba all these years and now TSF wants to go in and strangle them.
dlk
(13,313 posts)n/t
Botany
(77,700 posts)He is @ crazy mad man on his last loop around the sun. He had to leave in the middle of the
his golf game yesterday for dental work. He needs to be stopped now.
Trumps Merde a Logo in Florida might be a good target for some Cuban agents in Florida.
Btw these really bad ideas will not make erase EPSTEIN.