President Donald Trump highlighted the presence of 'remarkable Cuban-Americans' in the United States as he announced a "new dawn for Cuba" following "70 years of waiting."
During the Turning Point USA Spring Summit, Trump delivered his most explicit remarks yet regarding potential regime change on the island to an audience of roughly 5,000 attendees.
"Very soon, this great strength will also bring about a day that has been 70 years in the making. It's called a new dawn for Cuba," the president declared, adding, "We are going to help you with Cuba. We have so many remarkable Cuban-Americans."
He directly addressed this community, describing them as individuals "brutally mistreated, whose families were killed and brutalized," concluding with a symbolic warning: "And now, watch what happens."
Increasingly Direct Presidential Statements
The Phoenix speech is not isolated but rather the latest in a series of increasingly direct presidential comments about Cuba. On March 27 in Miami Beach, Trump jokingly stated, "Cuba is next, but pretend I didn't say that."
Last Tuesday, he mentioned, "We might stop at Cuba after we finish with this," referring to the conflict with Iran. And on March 16, he declared from the White House, "I believe I will have the honor of taking Cuba."
Military and Diplomatic Movements
Alongside the rhetoric, USA Today revealed last Tuesday, citing anonymous sources, that the Pentagon had accelerated planning for a potential military operation in Cuba, although General Francis Donovan, head of the Southern Command, testified in March before Congress that no operations to seize the island were planned.
On the diplomatic front, State Department officials met yesterday in Havana with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, known as "El Cangrejo" and grandson of Raúl Castro, to explore a possible transition.
Trump's administration proposed installing Starlink in Cuba in exchange for free elections, the release of political prisoners, and compensation for properties confiscated since 1959.
The Cuban regime has responded with defiance. Last Thursday, Díaz-Canel warned of a potential U.S. military aggression, invoking the anniversary of the Bay of Pigs invasion, and declared, "We are ready to fight."
Political Implications in Florida
Trump's appeal to Cuban-Americans also carries a significant political dimension: Miami-Dade County is home to approximately 1.2 million Cuban descendants, and 68% of likely Cuban-American voters in that county expressed their intention to vote for Trump in 2024, according to the Cuba 2024 survey by Florida International University, the highest level ever recorded.
Understanding Trump's Cuba Policy
What did Trump announce about Cuba at the Turning Point USA Spring Summit?
Trump announced a "new dawn for Cuba," indicating a potential shift in the U.S. approach towards the island and highlighting the contributions of Cuban-Americans.
Has the U.S. government planned military action towards Cuba?
While there were reports of accelerated planning for a potential military operation, General Francis Donovan testified that no actual plans to seize the island were in place.
What are the political implications of Trump's statements for Cuban-Americans?
Trump's statements are likely aimed at securing support from the Cuban-American community, particularly in Miami-Dade County, where a significant percentage of voters have shown support for him.