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. Cuba’s 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

Trump’s 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 president’s 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 Cuba’s 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.”