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Trump's Cuba Remarks Spark Outrage Amid Crisis

3/17/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump said he expects to have "the honor of taking Cuba" amid a humanitarian crisis and blackout.
He said he could do "anything" with Cuba, calling the country a "very weakened nation."
Critics, including U.S. lawmakers, condemned the remarks as dangerous interventionist rhetoric as reports emerge of pressure on Díaz-Canel to remove him from power and of an intensified oil blockade, while talks continue.

History

Historical Context

The Cuban Missile Crisis in October 1962 marked a critical juncture in U.S.-Cuba relations, triggered by the Soviet Union's deployment of nuclear missiles just 90 miles from the U.S. President John F. Kennedy responded with a naval blockade and intense negotiations, ultimately leading to a secret agreement to remove U.S. missiles from Turkey in exchange for the withdrawal of Soviet missiles from Cuba.

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Story summary

U.S. President Donald Trump said he expects to have "the honor of taking Cuba" amid a humanitarian crisis and blackout.
He said he could do "anything" with Cuba, calling the country a "very weakened nation."
Critics, including U.S. lawmakers, condemned the remarks as dangerous interventionist rhetoric as reports emerge of pressure on Díaz-Canel to remove him from power and of an intensified oil blockade, while talks continue.

1 / 2