Trump talks about using force against Cuba. “I want to settle this matter.”

Trump was asked by conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt whether he would use force if necessary to, as the host put it, "liberate Cuba." The president replied in the affirmative.

Yes, I want to sort out Kuba's case before I leave. And we have a very good, talented man in Cuba named Marco, Trump said, referring to Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The US president assessed that Cuba was in a very difficult situation. He called it "basically a failed place" and a "failed state."

He (Marco Rubio) would love to do it. So we're watching this very closely. Cuba is doing very poorly. It's basically a failed place, a failed state, whatever you want to call it. I wish I could do that, Trump said.

Asked whether he would consider using force if a change of power on the island required a "week-long military campaign", he again replied in the affirmative. He noted that he would "definitely consider it."

He had previously announced a change of regime

Donald Trump has previously spoken about his intention to change the communist regime in Cuba. He announced that he would deal with this matter "after Iran." So far, however, he has usually emphasized that achieving this goal should not require the use of military force.

Since the beginning of 2026, the US has been blocking tankers sailing to Cuba as part of the island's fuel blockade. These activities contribute to frequent interruptions in electricity supplies and the deterioration of the economic situation of Cuba's inhabitants.