Late Sunday, the President forecast that Cuba was “ready to fall” following the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces, cautioning that Havana could no longer depend on Caracas for security and oil supplies.
Trump stated that Cuba’s destiny is now closely linked to Maduro’s removal from power and the breakdown of Venezuela’s capacity to financially support its regional allies.
When asked if he was considering U.S. action, Trump responded: “I think it’s just going to fall. I don’t think we need any action. Looks like it’s going down. It’s going down for the count.”
The president’s remarks during an impromptu press session with reporters on Air Force One came after Saturday’s [blank] on charges related to a narco-terrorism conspiracy. This bold operation has sent shockwaves through allied governments in the region, with Cuban officials calling for rallies in solidarity with Venezuela and accusing the U.S. of violating sovereignty.
U.S. officials assert that Cuban security forces played a pivotal role in maintaining Maduro’s grip on power. The Secretary of State [blank] noted that Cuban operatives essentially managed Venezuela’s internal intelligence and security activities—including personally guarding Maduro and monitoring loyalty within his administration.
“It was Cubans that guarded Maduro,” Rubio said. “He was not guarded by Venezuelan bodyguards. He had Cuban bodyguards.”
On Sunday, Cuba’s government confirmed that 32 Cuban military and police officers died during the U.S. operation in Venezuela—marking the first official death toll released by Havana. Cuban state media reported that the officers had been deployed at Caracas’ request and announced two days of national mourning.
While traveling back to Washington, Trump verified the existence of Cuban casualties.
“A lot of Cubans were killed yesterday,” he said. “There was a lot of death on the other side. No death on our side.”
Trump also targeted neighboring Colombia, accusing its leadership of fueling [blank] into the U.S.
“Colombia is very sick, run by a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the United States,” Trump said, adding that the country, “is not going to be doing it for a very long time.”
He indicated the U.S. was prepared to act against narco-trafficking networks operating by land and sea, citing recent interdictions.
Trump also revived his long-standing focus on Greenland, arguing the Arctic territory is critical to U.S. security amid growing Russian and Chinese activity.
“We need Greenland from the standpoint of national security,” Trump said. “Greenland is covered with Russian and Chinese ships all over the place.”
Trump has characterized Saturday’s operation as part of a broader effort to reassert [blank], invoking the Monroe Doctrine and warning that hostile regimes can no longer rely on one another for survival.
Maduro is scheduled to be arraigned in a federal court in New York on Monday.