The President of the United States, Donald Trump, delivered his speech on the State of the Union on February 24, 2026, before a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
The address, broadcast in prime time and coinciding with the upcoming 250th anniversary of American independence, allowed the president to reflect on the first year of his second term and outline his economic, immigration, and foreign policy priorities.
However, there was a notable absence in the speech. Trump did not mention Cuba at any point, despite the expectations generated in South Florida and among exile sectors who were waiting for some announcement or direct reference to the island.
Economy, inflation, and "golden age"
Trump focused much of his speech on economic indicators. He claimed that core inflation had dropped to 1.7% in the last months of 2025 and highlighted the decrease in gasoline prices, the increase in employment, and the records reached by the stock market.
He defended his tariff policy as a driver of new investments and asserted that he secured commitments of over 18 trillion dollars in one year.
He also advocated for the elimination of taxes on tips and overtime, the expansion of the child tax credit, and the creation of the so-called "Trump Accounts" for minors.
In terms of energy, he highlighted the increase in oil and gas production in the United States and announced agreements for major technology companies to generate their own electricity in response to the growing demand for data centers linked to artificial intelligence.
Immigration, security, and electoral reform
The president stated that the southern border is now "the safest in history" and maintained that no illegal immigrants have been admitted in the last nine months. He pointed to a reduction in fentanyl trafficking and a historic drop in the homicide rate.
Trump urged Congress to pass new laws to strengthen border security, eliminate "sanctuary cities," and require identification and proof of citizenship to vote.
He announced a "war against fraud" in public programs and defended the deployment of the National Guard in several cities to combat crime.
In this section, he dedicated words to Mexico, referring to the fight against the cartels and the designation of these organizations as foreign terrorist groups.
Foreign Policy: Venezuela, Iran, and Global Conflicts
On the international stage, Trump claimed to have contributed to the resolution of several conflicts and highlighted the military operation in Venezuela that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro in January, which he described as a “colossal victory” for U.S. security.
He noted that Washington is working with Venezuela's interim president, Delcy Rodríguez, and celebrated the release of Venezuelan political prisoners following the start of a transition process in that country.
He also spoke about negotiations with Iran following the destruction of its nuclear program in the so-called Midnight Hammer Operation, reiterating that he will not allow Tehran to acquire nuclear weapons.
He also mentioned the war between Russia and Ukraine, the situation in Gaza, and agreements among various countries in conflict.
Despite this extensive international review, Cuba was not mentioned either directly or indirectly. There were no announcements about sanctions, bilateral policy, Cuban migration, or references to the regime in Havana.
For a segment of the Cuban-American electorate, who were hoping for concrete signals amidst international pressure on governments allied with Castroism, the silence was quite significant.
The speech, focused on economy, security, and the image of global strength, made it clear that, at least on this occasion, Cuba was not at the center of Trump’s priorities.
Filed under: