US midterms: At Florida rally, Trump vows action against Cuba after Iran war

US President Donald Trump has said he will turn his attention to Cuba once the war with Iran is settled, using a campaign rally in Florida to signal further pressure on the communist-run island ahead of the November 3 midterm elections. Speaking for around 90 minutes in Fort Myers on Friday, Trump suggested that US military forces returning from the Iran conflict could stop near Cuba. His remarks came as his administration continues to tighten pressure on the Cuban government. “We'll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast. They'll raise up their hands, and then we're going to send Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal,” Trump said, referring to the US secretary of state, who has played a key role in shaping Washington's Cuba policy. Trump's comments come as the Iran war continues without a clear end in sight. He reiterated that further military action against Iran could be possible as his administration grapples with rising oil prices, which have put Republicans on the defensive ahead of the midterm elections.

Trump has increasingly made Cuba a target of his foreign policy in his second term, seeking fundamental changes to the country's government. His administration has imposed an oil blockade that has added to the island's economic difficulties, including fuel shortages and power blackouts worsened by ageing infrastructure. In September, Trump called Cuba a “failed state” during his address to the United Nations General Assembly and declared that “Freedom will be coming to Cuba”. The remarks prompted the Cuban delegation to walk out. On Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio also called for change on the island. In a post on X, he urged people seeking a different future for Cuba to work with the CIA, writing that those disappointed with the Cuban government should “create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA”. He did not provide further details. Trump's latest remarks follow Washington's broader campaign to increase pressure on leftist governments in the region. Earlier this year, the US ousted Venezuela's leader, adding to concerns about the administration's approach towards governments opposed to Washington. UN human rights experts have criticised the US oil blockade against Cuba, describing it as a violation of international law. Rights advocates have also accused the Trump administration of adopting an imperialist approach to foreign policy.

Trump's rally was aimed at boosting the electoral prospects of Florida Republican Representative Byron Donalds, who is running for governor against Democrat David Jolly. Florida is home to a significant Cuban American population, making its voters an important constituency in US elections. Trump won 68% of the Cuban American vote in Florida in the 2024 presidential election. Alongside his remarks on Cuba and Iran, Trump announced plans to spend $250 million to hire at least 5,000 nurses for elder care facilities across the US, appealing to the state's large population of older residents. The speech was the latest in a series of campaign rallies in Republican-friendly areas as the president seeks to support his party ahead of the November 3 congressional elections. Trump also spoke about his crowd sizes and renovations at the White House during the event.