In brief

• US President Donald Trump said he wants to settle the Cuba issue before leaving office.
• He did not rule out military force and said he would consider a week-long military campaign.
• Trump called Cuba a failed state and said the US has been blocking oil tankers bound for the island since early 2026.

Trump's remarks on Cuba

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he wants to deal with Cuba before he leaves office, and he did not rule out using force to achieve it (Trump nie wyklucza użycia siły. "Chcę załatwić sprawę Kuby" – Wirtualna Polska) (Donald Trump ostrzega Kubę. Prezydent USA rozważa użycie siły – Onet). Speaking in an interview with conservative commentator Hugh Hewitt on Fox News, Trump answered yes when asked whether he would use force to "liberate" Cuba if needed (Trump mówi o użyciu siły wobec Kuby. „Chcę załatwić tę sprawę” – RMF24).

He pointed to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom he called a talented envoy for the task, saying Rubio would very much like to take it on and that the administration is watching the situation closely.

Description of Cuba

Trump described Cuba's condition as very poor, calling it essentially a failed place, a failed state, "whatever you want to call it".

Military option

Asked whether he would use force if a change of power on the island required a "week-long campaign" by the military, Trump again answered yes and said he would certainly consider it.

Background

Trump had previously spoken about changing the communist government in Cuba and said he would turn to the issue after Iran. Until now, however, he had generally stressed that the goal should not require military action.

Pressure on the island

According to reports, the United States has been blocking oil tankers bound for Cuba since the start of 2026.

Key figures

• Trump's remarks came in a Fox News interview on 12 November 2026.
• Trump's remarks were first reported on the evening of 12 November, Polish time, by several outlets.