Karoline Leavitt, the White House spokesperson, reiterated on Wednesday that the Cuban regime is on a path to collapse, clarifying a previous statement made by President Donald Trump, in which he suggested that "Cuba is next."
Her clarification was in response to journalists' inquiries about Trump's exact meaning when he made the remark on March 27 at the Future Investment Initiative conference in Miami. During the event, the President humorously stated, "Cuba is next, by the way, but pretend I didn't say that... Media, please ignore this statement. Thank you. Cuba continues."
"I believe when President Trump said that—and then clarified later—he meant that the Cuban regime is destined to fall," Leavitt explained to the press.
The Fragile State of Cuba
The spokesperson was forthright in her assessment of the island's condition: "The country is extremely fragile. It is in a very precarious economic position, and financially as well."
Leavitt addressed the Cuban people directly: "The Cuban people are fed up with their government, as they should be."
Diplomatic Efforts and U.S. Pressure
Regarding diplomatic efforts, Leavitt mentioned that "these talks and discussions continue to take place at the highest level of our government," although she did not have any updates or specific announcements regarding U.S. policy towards Cuba.
Her comments come amid mounting U.S. pressure on Havana.
Since January 2026, the Trump administration has imposed over 240 new sanctions against the regime and signed Executive Order 14380, declaring Cuba an extraordinary threat and imposing tariffs on countries supplying it with oil.
International Reactions and Developments
In this context, Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on March 11 that Cuba is in its final moments and anticipated "some significant developments coming soon" regarding the island.
Meanwhile, Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal confirmed on Wednesday to AFP that there are contacts between the two governments, although still in a very preliminary stage without structured formal negotiations.
The Cuban regime also released over 2,000 political prisoners on April 3, a move some analysts link to the ongoing negotiation process.
Insights into the Cuban Regime Crisis
What did President Trump mean by "Cuba is next"?
President Trump implied that the Cuban regime is likely to collapse, a sentiment later clarified by White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt.
How has the U.S. exerted pressure on Cuba?
The Trump administration has imposed over 240 sanctions and signed Executive Order 14380, which designates Cuba as a threat and applies tariffs on countries supplying it with oil.
Are there ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and Cuba?
According to Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Josefina Vidal, there are preliminary contacts between the two nations, though no formal negotiations have been structured yet.