Trump says he wants to settle Cuba before leaving office and would consider military force

A deadline set at 2029

Donald Trump said on Thursday, 12 November, that he wants to settle the question of Cuba before he leaves the White House in 2029. In an interview with conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt, he said Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be the one to carry it out, citing Rubio's Cuban-born parents. POLITICO reported that this is the first time Trump has put a timeline on a possible military operation, although he has repeatedly talked about ousting the island's communist government. Europa Press reported that he is still weighing a brief military operation to seize control of the island and force a change of leadership, in the style of the Venezuelan case.

“I want to get Cuba done before I leave.”

Military option kept open

Asked whether he would back military force to free Cuba, Trump said he would consider it. When the question came again, this time about a military campaign that could last about a week, he gave the same answer, according to rmf24. Outlets differ on the interview itself: Europa Press names the Salem News Channel, eldiario.es and POLITICO describe a radio exchange with Hewitt, and rmf24 names Fox News. Europa Press also tied the rhetoric to the US capture of Nicolás Maduro in a raid on Caracas earlier this year, which it described as a continuation of events in Venezuela.

Earlier remarks

On Monday, 9 November, Trump told reporters at the White House that he believed Cuba would fall very soon, calling it a nation in decline. In late October he said he would handle Cuba after the war in Iran and planned to send Rubio afterwards to close deals. At the UN General Assembly in September he called for a fundamental change on the island. In March he said he believed he could do what he wanted with Cuba, whether freeing it or keeping it, and eldiario.es reported that he expected to have the honor of taking control of the island.

Blockade and conditions on the island

Rmf24 reports that since the start of 2026 the United States has been blocking tankers bound for Cuba as part of a fuel blockade of the island. Those measures contribute to frequent power cuts and a worsening economic situation for Cubans, the outlet says. Eldiario.es says Cuba has endured an energy and oil blockade by the United States throughout the year. Trump described the island as a failed nation that his administration is watching closely. He also claimed he won 94% of the Cuban vote in Florida and said he is now more popular than he was then.