Trump Says He Will 'Take' Cuba as Havana Signals Openness to Foreign Investment
Trump said he expected to 'have the honor of taking Cuba' as Cuban officials announced talks with the U.S. and plans to open to foreign investment amid an energy crisis.
Boston GlobeTrump says he will have the ‘honor’ of ‘taking Cuba’
Daily BeastPower-Hungry Trump Thirsts Over ‘Taking’ Another Country
Joe.My.God.Trump: "I Will Have The Honor Of Taking Cuba, I Think I Can Do Anything I Want With It, To Tell You The Truth" - Joe.My.God.
CNBCTrump says he thinks he will have the 'honor' of 'taking Cuba'
Overview
President Donald Trump said on Monday he expected to "have the honor of taking Cuba" and that "I can do anything I want with it," while speaking at the White House.
Cuban officials planned to announce on the same day that the government would open itself to foreign investment, the deputy prime minister, Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga, said.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said on Friday his government had engaged in talks with U.S. officials, and Trump confirmed on Monday that Cuba "is talking to us."
For the past three months the United States has blocked Cuba's access to foreign oil, and Cuban officials reported frequent blackouts including a broad power outage on Monday amid a worsening humanitarian and energy crisis.
U.S. officials said they would wait to see whether Cuba's announced changes were truly structural before deciding whether to issue licenses allowing U.S. investment, a person close to the negotiations said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as evidence of an aggressive, expansionist presidency by foregrounding provocative remarks and grouping prior actions (Maduro capture, Greenland overtures). Editorial language (e.g., 'aggressive foreign policy,' 'blockaded') and limited contrary perspectives magnify a narrative of unilateral, risky U.S. interventionism.
FAQ
Trump referred to Cuba as a 'failed nation' and stated he expected to 'have the honor of taking Cuba,' indicating a potential U.S. takeover or strong intervention, while noting 'I can do anything I want with it' and that something will happen quickly.[1]
Cuba plans to open to investment from Cuban nationals living abroad, including in the U.S., for both small and large investments, especially in infrastructure, announced by Deputy Prime Minister Oscar Pérez-Oliva Fraga.
The U.S. has blocked Cuba's access to foreign oil through threats of steep tariffs on countries shipping oil to Cuba, leading to fuel shortages, collapsing energy grid, frequent blackouts, and public protests.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed talks with U.S. officials, Trump acknowledged Cuba 'is talking to us' and 'wants to make a deal,' but U.S. will verify if changes are structural before issuing investment licenses.[1]
