Trump says he can do ‘anything’ he wants with Cuba

Trump claims he can do “anything” with Cuba amid U.S.-Cuba talks, escalating tensions over political intervention and economic crises.

 U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against Cuba ​on Monday (March 16, 2026), saying he expected to have the “honor” of “taking Cuba in some form” ⁠and that “I can do anything I want” with the neighbouring country.

The threatening statements come even as Cuba and the United States have opened talks aimed at improving their largely adverse relations, which have reached one ‌of their most contentious moments in the 67 years since Fidel Castro overthrew what had been a close U.S. ally.

“I do believe I’ll be ... having the ‌honor of taking Cuba. That’s a big honor. Taking Cuba in some form,” ‌Mr. Trump ⁠told reporters as the island faces an unprecedented economic crisis, exacerbated by an oil ⁠blockade the U.S. imposed after capturing former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

“I mean, whether I free it, take it. Think I can do anything I want with it. You want to know the truth,” Mr. Trump told reporters at a ​signing event in the Oval Office.

After ‌Mr. Trump spoke, the New York Times reported that removing Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel from office is a key U.S. objective in the bilateral talks. Citing four people familiar with the talks, the Times said the Americans have signaled to Cuban negotiators that Diaz-Canel must ‌go but are leaving the next steps up to the Cubans.

Cuba has traditionally rejected ​any interference in its internal affairs and has considered any proposals on that front a deal-breaker for any agreement.