President Donald Trump suggested the U.S. may move to take over Cuba immediately after concluding military operations in Iran [1].

The remarks signal a potential shift in foreign policy toward the Caribbean, suggesting the administration may prioritize regime change in Cuba as a subsequent objective to its mission in the Middle East.

Speaking May 1, 2026 [1], at the Forum Club of the Palm Beaches in West Palm Beach, Florida, Trump addressed a gathering of Latin American leaders. He described the Cuban government as being ripe for collapse and indicated that the U.S. would shift its focus toward the island once operations in Iran are complete [2].

“Cuba’s got problems,” Trump said. “On the way back from Iran, we’ll …” [3]. He further said to the leaders that “great change will soon be coming to Cuba” [4].

Trump illustrated a hypothetical scenario involving the U.S. Navy to describe how the takeover might occur. He specifically mentioned the USS Abraham Lincoln [5]. Trump imagined Cuban leaders saying, “Thank you very much, we give up,” after a U.S. aircraft carrier stopped 100 yards offshore [1].

Reports on the nature of the comments vary. Some accounts describe the remarks as a joke regarding a Navy takeover [6], while others characterize the speech as a threat or a formal indication of a policy shift [4, 7].

Trump did not provide a specific timeline for the conclusion of the Iran operations or a detailed strategic plan for the transition in Cuba. He said that the current state of the Cuban regime makes it a viable target for U.S. attention following the Middle East conflict [2].

““Great change will soon be coming to Cuba,” Trump said to Latin American leaders.”

These remarks indicate a potential expansion of U.S. interventionist policy, linking the resolution of conflict in Iran to a new strategic focus on the Western Hemisphere. By suggesting a naval blockade or presence—specifically citing the USS Abraham Lincoln—the administration is signaling that it views the stability of the Cuban government as precarious enough to warrant direct military pressure.