Trump Says He Is Considering Military Operation to Take Over Cuba Before Leaving Office

US President Donald Trump has said he is considering using military force to take over Cuba before the end of his presidential term, raising fresh concerns about Washington’s escalating pressure on the communist-led Caribbean nation.

In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Thursday, Trump said he wanted to resolve the issue of Cuba before leaving office and suggested that a military intervention remained among the options under consideration.

“I want to get Cuba done before I leave,” Trump told Hewitt when asked whether he was considering “freeing Cuba” through military intervention.

Trump also indicated that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would play a central role in any effort targeting the Cuban government, highlighting the administration’s strong political focus on the island.

“We have a very good, talented guy for Cuba named Marco, because Marco’s parents are from … Cuba, as you probably know, and he would love to do that,” Trump said.

Although Trump has repeatedly expressed his desire to remove Cuba’s communist government, his latest remarks mark the first time he has attached a specific timeline to the possibility of military action, suggesting that the issue could become a significant foreign policy priority during the remainder of his presidency.

The comments have intensified speculation about the direction of US policy toward Havana, particularly following Washington’s recent actions against another key Cuban ally, Venezuela.

In March, Trump told reporters that he believed he would have the “honor of taking Cuba,” signalling his ambitions to bring about a political transformation on the island. However, his latest interview provided a clearer indication that he wants to achieve that objective before his presidential term concludes.

The US administration has significantly increased pressure on Cuba following the operation that resulted in the removal of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, a close political and economic partner of the Cuban government.

After Maduro was deposed in a US operation ordered by Trump, Washington imposed an oil blockade on Cuba, further worsening the country’s already fragile economic situation.

Cuba has long depended on Venezuelan oil supplies to support its electricity generation, transportation and industrial activities. The disruption of those supplies, combined with existing economic difficulties and US sanctions, has contributed to a severe energy crisis.

The island’s electrical grid has suffered major disruptions, leaving large sections of the population facing power shortages and worsening humanitarian conditions.

The crisis has placed additional pressure on Cuba’s government, which has struggled to maintain essential services amid shortages of fuel, food, medicine and other basic necessities.

Trump’s remarks also come at a politically sensitive moment for his administration. Republicans suffered a resounding defeat in the midterm elections a week earlier, with public dissatisfaction over the administration’s handling of the war in Iran emerging as one of the factors behind the electoral setback.

The ongoing conflict has contributed to higher prices for fuel, food and other essential goods, creating economic pressure on American households and complicating the administration’s domestic political position.

Against this backdrop, Trump’s comments about Cuba could signal an attempt to pursue a major foreign policy objective while appealing to an important constituency within the United States.

During the interview, Trump specifically referred to Cuban-Americans who supported him in Florida, saying he wanted to take action on their behalf.

“Frankly, I’d love to be able to do it for the people, for the Cubans that came and were treated really badly, and they came to America,” he said.

Cuban-Americans, particularly those living in Florida, have historically played an influential role in US politics and have generally supported tougher policies toward Havana, although political views within the community are not uniform.

Rubio, whose parents emigrated from Cuba, has been one of the most prominent advocates of a tougher US approach toward the Cuban government. His position in the administration gives him significant influence over Washington’s policy toward the island.

The secretary of state has consistently criticised Cuba’s political system and supported efforts to increase pressure on its leadership.

However, Trump’s latest comments leave several important questions unanswered, including whether the administration has developed an operational military plan, what circumstances could trigger intervention and whether Washington intends to pursue diplomatic or political alternatives.

A military intervention would represent a dramatic escalation in the decades-long confrontation between the United States and Cuba, which has remained under communist rule since Fidel Castro’s 1959 revolution.

The two countries have experienced prolonged periods of hostility, economic sanctions and diplomatic tensions, despite occasional efforts to improve relations.