Trump Wants to “Get Cuba Done” and Is Weighing Military Force Before Leaving Office

Key Facts

US President Donald Trump said he wants to “get Cuba done” before leaving office, adding that he would consider using military force if necessary, in remarks made during a phone interview with broadcaster Hugh Hewitt published on November 12, 2026. He was responding to a question about whether he would accept a short, week-long military campaign, saying he would “definitely consider” the option. Trump did not announce a decision to use force or launch a military operation, but discussed a conditional possibility. The military remark comes amid mounting US pressure on Havana, including an expansion of economic sanctions earlier in the month. The available information contained no data on price movements or market reaction to the remarks.

In the interview, Trump said his administration was “watching the situation closely” and described Cuba as a “failed state,” linking the characterization to its deteriorating performance. He also said he wanted to act in the interests of Cubans who had come to the United States, claiming they had been treated badly before arriving. He discussed Secretary of State Marco Rubio, noting that his parents are from Cuba, and said Rubio “would love to do it” in reference to action involving the island. Trump did not clarify in the published answers exactly what he meant by getting Cuba done or what conditions might lead to the use of force. The interview therefore remained at the level of expressing intent and considering a military option, without announcing an executive action.

The US Treasury Department expanded the sectors in Cuba subject to sanctions on November 5 to include electronics, manufacturing, the maritime sector and technology. The designation of the new sectors was based on Executive Order 14404, issued on May 1, 2026, which authorizes sanctions on foreign persons the department determines operate in those sectors. In a separate announcement on November 5, the State Department said it had targeted 8 entities and 2 individuals. The targeted entities included two China-based companies that Washington accused of supplying weapons and surveillance and security equipment to the Cuban government. These measures represent an existing economic framework for pressuring Cuba, but do not in themselves mean Washington is moving to military action.

Rubio justified the administration’s policy by saying Cuba’s ruling elite monopolizes energy, shipping and technology resources for its own benefit, while residents face outages and economic shortages. The Associated Press reported that daily power outages had exceeded 24 hours, as the aging power grid faltered and fuel reserves dwindled. The energy crisis adds a domestic dimension to the economic pressures targeted by the sanctions, as Washington frames its measures around its accusations against the Cuban government. Internationally, the United Nations General Assembly condemned the US economic embargo on Cuba for the 34th year. The agency said Washington’s campaign had prompted countries to vote against the condemnation resolution or abstain for the first time, without changing the continuation of the embargo.

The November remarks followed positions Trump took in October, when he said Rubio was engaged in negotiations with Cuba and that he did not want the island to become a haven for US adversaries. Days later, he said he expected a deal and did not think the military would be necessary, while describing the island’s economy as deteriorating sharply. In May, the agency quoted US officials as saying Washington was not seeking imminent military action against Havana, despite Trump’s repeated threats. This reflects a difference between discussing the possibility of considering force and announcing an imminent operation, which did not occur in the published interview. Rubio said the administration wanted to resolve differences with Cuba peacefully, but questioned whether a diplomatic solution with the current government was possible.

In late October, analysts quoted by the Associated Press said a military operation against the island was unlikely because of its complexities and risks, though they did not rule out the option entirely. These assessments remain separate from the administration’s official position and Trump’s answer in the interview, which included no announcement of a timetable or plan for action. The available information combines sanctions that took effect on November 5 with a later statement that the military option would be considered if necessary. The interview did not specify whether Washington would continue on the diplomatic track or take additional steps. Rubio left the door open to a peaceful settlement while expressing doubts about the possibility of reaching one with the current Cuban government.