President Donald Trump on Monday, March 16, declared that he believes he will have the “honor” of “taking Cuba” in some form, escalating his rhetoric toward the communist-led island nation as it battles with acute shortages of food, fuel, electricity, and medicine that have plunged daily life into hardship for millions of Cubans.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump praised Cuba’s tourism potential and climate and made interesting claims about its future under US influence.
“I think Cuba, in its own way, tourism and everything else, it’s a beautiful island, great weather. They’re not in a hurricane zone, which is nice for a change, you know? They won’t be asking us for money for hurricanes every week,” he said.
“I do believe I’ll have the honor of taking Cuba. That’s a big honor. Taking Cuba in some form, you know. Taking Cuba. I mean, whether I free it, take it — I can do anything I want with it, if you want to know the truth.”
President Trump’s comment came amid alleged ongoing secret talks between U.S. and Cuban officials. Recently, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that the ongoing talks between his country and the U.S. seek to resolve bilateral differences.
Also Read: Insider Reveals Trump’s Secret Plan to Go After Cuba After Venezuela
This is not the first time that Trump has boldly floated the idea of a “friendly takeover” of Cuba. He has been warning that the regime is “down to fumes” and could collapse soon.
Trump’s remarks elicited sharp reactions on social media as they coincided with a recent NBC News report detailing the grim conditions facing ordinary Cubans.
According to the NBC report published on Monday, the island is enduring prolonged blackouts — sometimes lasting up to 30 hours in provinces like Matanzas — that disrupt everything from food preservation to cooking and phone charging.
Residents describe a life of constant exhaustion, with one construction worker, Erisander Sánchez, telling NBC, “Beyond the physical exhaustion, it’s the psychological exhaustion that weighs down on us… You can’t plan anything.”
Fuel scarcity has paralyzed the transport sector, leaving streets nearly empty except during rush hour. Basic food items remain unaffordable and or unavailable.
Medicine shortages have also worsened health crises. Trash piles are rotting in neighborhoods due to halted waste collection, increasing disease risks.
Residents attribute much of the worsening crisis to the long-standing U.S. embargo, intensified by a Trump-era oil blockade starting in January 2020 that blocked shipments Cuba once relied on from allies like Venezuela.
The working class earns very little and cannot even make ends meet, with salaries ranging from $16 to $20 per month that barely cover essentials, and many depend on remittances from family abroad.
Trump’s administration has maintained pressure through sanctions, viewing Cuba’s communist government as vulnerable.
His latest statements build on earlier predictions that “Cuba is gonna fall pretty soon” and suggestions that Secretary of State Marco Rubio is handling potential transitions.
Also Read: Trump Begins Search for Cuban Government Insiders, Sets Deadline for Regime Change
Cuban leaders have signaled some economic openings, such as allowing diaspora investment in businesses, but have not directly responded to the takeover rhetoric.
Critics see the president’s language as evoking outdated U.S. interventionist policies in Latin America, as supporters frame it as leverage to force change amid humanitarian suffering.
The White House did not immediately clarify whether Trump’s words signal military action, negotiations, or economic pressure.
The U.S. military is currently fully focused on the ongoing war with Iran. The U.S. Air Force and the Navy have been carrying out a series of attacks deep inside Iran, targeting their military assets.
Iran has also been responding by targeting American bases located within the Middle East.
