Donald Trump predicts the collapse of the Cuban government. “They received money from Venezuela”
— Cuba will fall soon. Cuba is a country that is really close to collapse. They were getting money from Venezuela, they were getting oil from Venezuela, and now they're not getting it anymore,” Trump said while speaking to reporters at a restaurant in Urbandale, Iowa.
What does Donald Trump think about the Cuban government?
Why is Cuba close to collapse according to Trump?
What steps does the White House plan to take regarding Cuba?
What does Donald Trump think about relations with Venezuela?
Trump did not elaborate on his thought. When asked whether, given his words that the US now rules Venezuela, he considers himself the actual president of that country, Trump did not answer directly, but emphasized that he earns a lot of money for Venezuela and the US from the sale of Venezuelan oil given to him by the regime in Caracas.
During an earlier conversation with reporters before flying to Iowa, the president also deflected a question about the statement of Venezuelan leader Delca Rodriguez, who announced that “no more orders from Washington.” Trump said he had not seen the statement, but added that he had a good relationship with Rodriguez.
Donald Trump on Cuba. He wants to block oil imports
Trump's statement about Cuba is not the first to suggest the expected collapse of the communist regime in Havana. The president made a similar forecast just after the operation to capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. Meanwhile, the Politico website reported that the White House is considering blocking oil imports to Cuba.
Earlier, “WSJ” wrote that after the overthrow of Nicolas Maduro, the main source of support for Cuba, the Trump administration considers the Cuban economy to be close to collapse. Although, according to the New York newspaper's sources in the administration, the White House does not have a specific plan to carry out a coup in Havana, it considers the Venezuelan scenario, i.e. concluding a deal with people inside the regime, as an example to follow.
Representatives of the Trump administration were to hold meetings with Cuban refugees and civic organizations, during which they focused on identifying a person in the government apparatus in Havana who would agree to a deal and lead to regime change.
Marco Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, confirmed when asked if Cuba would be the next U.S. target after Venezuela. Trump on social media platforms agreed with an Internet user who joked that Rubio would be the president of Cuba.
