President Donald Trump has declared that Cuba is on the brink of collapse, signaling that regime change on the island nation is a priority for his administration following the ongoing conflict with Iran. In a phone interview with CNN, Trump asserted that Cuba ‘is gonna fall pretty soon,’ highlighting his intent to leverage economic and potential military pressure to achieve this outcome.
Speaking at the White House during an event honoring Inter Miami on March 5, 2026, Trump praised Secretary of State Marco Rubio for his work on tightening sanctions aimed at crippling Cuba’s economy. He emphasized that while Iran remains the current focus, action against Cuba is inevitable, describing it as ‘just a question of time.’ The administration’s strategy appears to build on years of intensified economic measures designed to destabilize Havana’s communist government.
Trump’s rhetoric has grown increasingly aggressive, with frequent threats against Cuba underscoring a broader policy of using overwhelming force to advance U.S. interests in Latin America. He pointed to recent actions in Venezuela, including the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro in January 2026, which severed a critical oil supply line to Cuba. This move has deepened the island’s economic woes, already strained by decades of U.S. sanctions.
The president also hinted at a personal stake in Cuba’s fate, claiming during a CNN interview that the situation has ‘fallen right into my lap’ after 50 years of observation. He suggested that American Cubans could soon return to their homeland, framing this as a key goal for his second term. Trump’s comments reflect a long-standing ambition to reshape the region, often disregarding international legal constraints, as seen in military strikes in Venezuela that resulted in dozens of casualties.
Separately, Trump acknowledged the expanded use of U.S. military power globally, citing operations like Midnight Hammer in Iran as evidence of success. He admitted to using force more than he would prefer but insisted that when deployed, ‘it certainly did work.’
The administration’s focus on Cuba comes amid broader geopolitical maneuvers, with Trump balancing multiple fronts. Yet, his repeated assertions about Havana’s fragility point to a calculated push, with Rubio positioned to lead the charge once the Iran conflict subsides. For now, the Cuban economy remains under severe strain, with fuel shortages and rising hardship reported as direct consequences of U.S. policy. The cutoff of Venezuelan oil alone has slashed a vital lifeline, leaving Havana more vulnerable than ever to Trump’s next move.
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