Donald Trump has once again said he plans to take over Cuba ‘almost immediately,’ after ‘finishing the job’ in Iran.
The president’s sights appeared to be back on Cuba on Friday as he ‘jokingly’ reiterated his goal of ‘taking over’ the Caribbean country while speaking at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida.
While recognizing attendees, including former Rep. Dan Mica, he said: ‘And he comes from, originally, a place called Cuba, which we will be taking over almost immediately,’ according to Fox News.
‘Cuba’s got problems. We’ll finish one first. I like to finish the job,’ Trump declared.
The island is currently facing continuous nationwide blackouts and an unprecedented economic crisis, which has been worsened by an oil blockade imposed by the United States following the capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.
Trump described a hypothetical scenario involving a US military presence offshore, in which a massive American aircraft carrier would stop just outside Cuban waters while returning from the Middle East.
‘On the way back from Iran, we’ll have one of our big – maybe the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier – the biggest in the world,’ Trump said.
‘We’ll have that come in, stop about 100 yards offshore and they’ll say, “Thank you very much, we give up.”‘
President Trump suggested plans to take over Cuba ‘almost immediately,’ after ‘finishing the job’ in Iran. Pictured: A person walks along an area of the Malecon in Havana, Cuba, on April 9
Trump ‘jokingly’ reiterated his goal of ‘taking over’ while speaking at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach on Friday
The island is currently facing continuous nationwide blackouts and an unprecedented economic crisis, worsened by an oil blockade imposed by the US
Trump suggested an American aircraft carrier could stop just outside Cuban waters while returning from the war in Iran
His comments came the same day he signed an executive order expanding US sanctions on the Cuban government, saying they were necessary due to threats to US national security and foreign policy.
In the order, the Trump administration called the Cuban government an ‘unusual and extraordinary threat’ to the United States, citing repression, corruption and alignment with rival foreign states.
The White House said that the increased pressure is essential to counter what it described as hostile intelligence and security activity just under 100 miles from American shores.
Meanwhile, Cuban officials have long rejected US calls for political and economic reforms, insisting that the country’s socialist system is not up for negotiation or debate.
Leaders, including President Miguel Diaz-Canel, described the new sanctions as ‘coercive’ and said they impose collective punishment on the country’s innocent citizens.
Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez added that the government would not be intimidated by US pressure.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodrigues said: ‘While the US government represses its own people in the streets, it seeks to punish ours, who are heroically resisting the US imperialism’s attacks.’
Earlier this week, the US Senate blocked a resolution to prevent Trump from taking military action against Cuba without congressional approval. The Republican-led chamber voted 51–47, mostly along party lines, against the measure.
The Trump administration called the Cuban government an ‘unusual and extraordinary threat’ to the US
Trump signed an executive order expanding US sanctions on the Cuban government
Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel described the new sanctions as ‘coercive’
The president previously said Cuba would be ‘next’ after the Middle East, though no formal plan was ever announced
Trump’s remarks, however, mirrored earlier statements suggesting that Cuba would be ‘next’ following military operations in Iran, though no formal plan was ever announced.
Last month, while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, the president said: ‘I do believe I’ll be having the honor of taking Cuba. That’s a big honor. Taking Cuba in some form.’
‘I mean, whether I free it, take it. Think I can do anything I want with it. You want to know the truth,’ he added.
The new executive order targets individuals and entities tied to Cuba’s security forces and key sectors like energy, finance and mining.
It also allows assets tied to sanctioned individuals to be blocked, bars Americans from doing business with them and imposes travel restrictions on certain Cuban government-linked individuals unless an exception is granted.
Cuba’s government, foreign companies on the island and US allies in the region could face heightened pressure as rhetoric and economic penalties continue to escalate.
Trump marked his first public ballroom appearance on Friday since suspected gunman Cole Tomas Allen, 31, allegedly stormed the White House Correspondents’ Dinner last weekend.
Tickets to the event were limited to members and guests of the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, a nonpartisan political group hosting Trump as part of its 50th anniversary, according to The Palm Beach Post.
Protestors seen outside the event held at Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
Trump ended his speech to a standing ovation
Dr. Phil McGraw speaks at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts
An attendee shows his support for Trump outside the event held in West Palm Beach on Friday
‘I know so many killers in this room, very successful people,’ Trump said, greeting attendees.
Within minutes, he moved rapidly between topics ranging from the war in Iran and Mexico to dogs and Tom Cruise.
‘I was seriously thinking of calling it the Gulf of Trump. I seriously was,’ he said at one point.
He then turned to his plans to make Palm Beach International Airport the ‘best in the country,’ as it is set to be renamed President Donald J. Trump International Airport after Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill on March 30.
‘I don’t think there’ll be anything as good as your airport will be anywhere in the country,’ he declared.
The president revived his claim that he won the 2020 election against former President Joe Biden, while calling his push to lower weight-loss drug prices a bid ‘to do the impossible.’
‘I do a lot of things that are impossible to do, like becoming president three times, like winning three races,’ he said.
Trump ended his speech to a standing ovation, attempted to leave the stage and was then ushered back before being asked what the most bizarre thing he had ever witnessed as president was.
‘If I told him what the most bizarre thing was, I’d have to probably resign in about three minutes as I walked off the stage,’ he said. ‘I’m not getting there.’
