Donald Trump stated on Monday that he believes he can "do anything" with Cuba, declaring that he would have "the honor" of "taking" it and suggesting that, on his own terms, liberating it would also mean taking it.
The statements came from the White House when answering questions from journalists after a live appearance.
The U.S. president describes the Island as a "failed nation", claims that "they are talking to them" from Cuba, and combines praise for its tourism potential with openly interventionist rhetoric.
Interrogated about whether what he could do with the Island would resemble Iran or Venezuela, he responded: "I can't tell you that. I can tell you that they are talking to us. It's a failed nation."
That phrase was the starting point of an intervention that alternated references to the economic state of Cuba with political judgments about its future.
In his description of the country, Trump insisted that Cuba lacks resources. "They have no money, they have no oil, they have nothing," he said.
Nevertheless, he highlighted its natural features. He noted that it has "good soil," "a beautiful landscape," and described it as "a beautiful island."
He also stated that, "in its own way, in terms of tourism and everything else," Cuba has a great appeal, while praising its climate and noting that it is not in a hurricane-prone area, something he presented as an advantage.
The exiles wish to return
A significant part of his remarks aimed to emphasize the connection between Cuba and the Cuban expatriate community, particularly in Florida.
Trump claimed to have met many people from the Island who, according to him, were mistreated in their home country and then thrived in the United States. “They are here and became wealthy. They are very entrepreneurial people. Very smart,” he stated.
To illustrate that argument, he mentioned several acquaintances of Cuban origin. He talked about a friend who, he said, started "with nothing" and ended up being the largest owner of gas stations in the country.
He also referred to the Fanjul family. He commented that they wish to return to Cuba for a visit after not having been back for approximately 50 years.
Trump stated that this desire would not be an isolated case. "Many Cubans said, Oh my God, would they like to return?" he asserted.
From there, he revisited the idea of Cuba as a territory of great symbolic and material value before moving on to a more definitive statement of his intentions.
"You will see the end."
"I believe that Cuba will see its end. Throughout my life, I have been hearing about the United States and Cuba. When will the United States do it? But I believe I will have the honor of taking Cuba," he declared.
The phrase was immediately reinforced by him. "It would be a great honor," he added.
Later, when asked again with the expression “Take Cuba?”, he replied without nuances: “Take Cuba. In some way, yes.” This insistence established the notion that it was not a casual phrase, but rather a concept that he wanted to reiterate explicitly.
Trump went even further by expanding on this idea with a formulation that blends “liberation” and control.
“Take Cuba. I mean, if I liberate it, I take it. I think I can do whatever I want with it,” he stated.
In the same excerpt, Trump portrayed Cuba as a deeply deteriorated country. "They are a nation very much affected at this moment. They have been for a long time," he said.
In addition, he attributed that situation to the historic leadership of the Cuban Revolution. He described Fidel Castro and his brothers as "very violent," "extremely violent," and stated that "this is how they ruled," through violence.
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