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President Donald Trump has reiterated his suggestion that the United States could deploy the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to Cuba, repeating earlier comments about taking control of the island and describing the country as "devastated." The remarks were made during a speech on Friday evening before the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches, a non-profit group in West Palm Beach, Florida, according to multiple reports.

Trump's remarks on Cuba

According to a transcript of the speech provided by the White House and reported by TASS, Trump said: "Cuba's got problems... On the way back from Iran, we'll have maybe the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier, the biggest in the world, we'll have that come in, stop about 100 yards offshore, and they'll say, 'thank you very much, we give up.'" In another version of the remarks, published by TASS, the president said the carrier would stop "a couple of hundred yards offshore, and we'll watch them wanting to do something."

Trump also repeated his characterization of Cuba as "devastated right now" and said it would be "an honor to free it up." These comments echo earlier statements made on February 27, when he said the United States could "establish friendly control over Cuba," and on May 1, when he said the U.S. intended to take control "almost immediately."

The president's remarks are part of a broader administration campaign that has been ongoing for months, according to The Hindu. The campaign seeks to press the Cuban government to make dramatic reforms, though the specifics of those reforms were not detailed in the reports.

Context of U.S.-Cuba relations

Trump's comments come amid a period of heightened tension between Washington and Havana. The president has previously stated that Washington intends to work out a further course of action against Cuba after the completion of a military operation against Iran, though no such operation has been publicly announced or confirmed. He has also repeatedly claimed that the Cuban government and economy are close to collapse, citing the cessation of oil supplies to Cuba from Venezuela, which he attributes to U.S. pressure.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel said on March 13 that Havana and Washington held talks that "were aimed at finding solutions through dialogue on bilateral differences," according to reports from TASS. The nature and outcome of those talks were not specified.

Separately, the Axios news portal reported in February, citing unnamed sources, that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been secretly discussing the future of the island with Raúl Castro's grandson, Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro. This report has not been independently confirmed, and neither the State Department nor Cuban officials have publicly commented on it.

Reactions and analysis

No official reaction from the Cuban government to Trump's latest comments has been reported. The remarks have been characterized by some observers as part of a broader pattern of confrontational U.S. rhetoric toward Cuba, though the actual deployment of a U.S. aircraft carrier near Cuban waters would represent a significant escalation. The reports from TASS and The Hindu do not include any indication that such a deployment has been ordered or planned.

The president's comments drew attention for their informal tone, with one report describing them as "one of several digressions" during his speech. The White House has not issued a formal statement on the remarks beyond the transcript.

Key Claims

  • Trump said the U.S. could send the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to Cuba, stopping offshore and prompting Cubans to "give up," as reported by TASS and The Hindu.
  • Trump described Cuba as "devastated" and said it would be "an honor to free it up," according to multiple reports.
  • The administration's campaign to press for Cuban reforms has been ongoing for months, according to The Hindu.
  • Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed talks with Washington aimed at finding solutions through dialogue, as reported by TASS.
  • Axios reported, citing unnamed sources, that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has held secret discussions with Raúl Castro's grandson; this has not been independently confirmed.
  • Trump previously said the U.S. could "establish friendly control over Cuba" on February 27, and reiterated intentions to take control "almost immediately" on May 1.

Perspectives

  • U.S. administration viewpoint: Trump's comments reflect a hardline stance toward Cuba, emphasizing U.S. military strength and the expectation of Cuban capitulation.
  • Cuban official viewpoint: President Díaz-Canel has acknowledged bilateral talks aimed at resolving differences through dialogue, suggesting an openness to negotiation.
  • Independent media perspective: The Axios report introduces the possibility of unofficial channels involving Secretary Rubio and a member of the Castro family, though its sourcing remains unclear.
This article is based on reporting from TASS and The Hindu. Some details, such as the exact distance of the carrier from shore and the nature of the Iran operation, vary between sources and have not been independently verified.