Once again, President Donald Trump mentioned Cuba in one of his press interviews, making it clear that the Cuban regime remains in the crosshairs of his administration.
But this time he did so with a phrase that suggests something is shifting: "For years, this has been talked about, and now it is happening."
During his interview with NBC News, Trump asserted this Wednesday that what has been discussed for years about Cuba is finally happening, apparently referring to the possibility that thousands of expelled or exiled Cubans may choose to return to the island.
The leader stated that “we have tens of thousands of people who were expelled from Cuba. They may want to return. They will have that option. For years, there has been talk that this would happen, and now it is occurring.”
The statement, short but significant, could be interpreted as a sign of change in immigration policy towards Cuba, or perhaps as one of the strategies to be implemented if the regime on the island were to fall, at a time when the issue of the Caribbean nation is again gaining attention on the White House's agenda.
The phrase also carries symbolic weight: for the first time in decades, the United States might approach the issue of Cubans who have been expelled or forced into exile in a different manner.
Trump's mention of Cuba comes at a sensitive political time when the Cuban-American community in Florida—crucial for his electoral base—watches closely for any developments that could impact the future of the island.
In his statement, the president reiterates that Cuba remains a central point in his hemispheric vision, leaving open the question of what is really "happening" behind his words.
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