Trump says Cuba ‘going to fall pretty soon,’ hints at future U.S. strategy
President Donald Trump said Friday that Cuba could soon experience significant political change. He suggested that the island nation might be reaching a turning point after decades of tense relations with the United States.
In a phone interview with CNN’s Dana Bash, Trump mentioned that Cuban leaders are eager to make a deal with Washington. He predicted that the current political system in Cuba won't last much longer.
“Cuba is going to fall pretty soon,” Trump stated during the interview while discussing broader foreign policy issues during his second term. “They want to make a deal so badly.”
The president indicated that he might rely on Marco Rubio, his secretary of state and a longtime critic of the Cuban government, to lead diplomatic efforts regarding Cuba. Trump suggested Rubio could take a key role in future negotiations or initiatives related to the country.
“We’ll put Marco over there and see how that works out,” Trump said. “We’re really focused on this one right now,” he added, referring to the ongoing international crisis with Iran, which administration officials say remains the immediate national security priority.
A possible shift after decades of tension
Relations between the United States and Cuba have been complicated for over fifty years, shaped by Cold War rivalries, economic sanctions, and occasional diplomatic openings. Trump suggested that the current moment might signal a historic turning point in that long-running standoff.
“I’ve been watching it for 50 years,” the president said, arguing that events in Cuba are unfolding in a way that helps the United States. “It’s fallen right into my lap.”
While Trump did not specify which developments he believes are weakening Cuba’s political system, analysts note that the country has experienced increasing economic difficulties in recent years. Ongoing shortages of fuel, food, and basic supplies have sparked protests and heightened frustration among many citizens.
The president also hinted that U.S. policy toward Cuba could become a major focus once the administration finishes its military efforts against Iran. Trump has consistently said that the conflict with Iran remains the administration’s immediate priority.
Cuban Americans mentioned in future plans
During remarks at the White House a day earlier, Trump suggested that changes in Cuba could eventually allow Cuban Americans to return more freely to their homeland.
“It’s only a question of time,” he said, predicting that political change in Cuba could pave the way for closer ties between the two countries.
Trump also stressed that his administration is trying to avoid starting multiple major foreign policy initiatives at the same time. According to the president, focusing on too many global issues at once could lead to instability.
“You do them all too fast, bad things happen,” Trump said. “We’re not going to let anything bad happen to this country.”
For now, administration officials say their immediate attention remains on the escalating conflict in the Middle East. However, Trump’s comments suggest that Cuba may soon become a major focus of U.S. foreign policy once current crises stabilize.