‘Cuba sees the end’: Trump suggests US may take the island as economic crisis grows

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Monday, March 16, said that “Cuba sees the end,” suggesting the nation is on the edge of a collapse. 

As the island faces a total blackout and severe fuel shortages, President Trump stated he believes he will have the “honor of taking Cuba” and can do “anything I want with it” to resolve the crisis.

Trump says he will have the ‘honor of taking Cuba’

During a White House briefing, President Trump made several remarks about the current situation in Cuba. 

The island is grappling with a major energy grid failure and a constrained economy, largely due to the loss of its primary Venezuelan fuel supply. 

Addressing the long-standing history between the two nations, Trump said, “I think Cuba sees the end. All my life I’ve been hearing about the United States and Cuba. When will the United States do it? I do believe I’ll be the honor of — having the honor of taking Cuba, it's a big honor.”

Trump signals US intervention will happen ‘in some form’

When asked to clarify his definition of “taking” the nation, which has been under its current form of government since 1959, Trump remained firm about the options available to his administration. 

He indicated that the US would intervene “in some form,” noting that the current circumstances have left the nation in a vulnerable position. 

Elaborating on his perspective, the president remarked, “Whether I free it, take it — I think I can do anything I want with it, you want to know the truth. They’re a very weakened nation right now. They were for a very long time.”

This tone follows previous mentions of a possible "friendly takeover," signaling that the White House sees an opportunity for change as the humanitarian and economic situation develops.

The current instability in Cuba follows a broader US strategy involving Venezuela earlier this year. 

By restricting the flow of oil and financial resources from Venezuela, the US effectively reduced Cuba's primary economic support, leading to the most severe shortages the island has seen in decades. 

President Trump attributed the current crisis to these policy decisions, explaining that the situation resulted from focused diplomatic and economic pressure. 

“It’s because of my intervention, intervention that is happening,” Trump said. 

“Obviously, otherwise they wouldn’t have this problem. We cut off all oil, all money,…everything coming in from Venezuela, which was the sole source.”