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The Trump administration isn’t done with regime change talk, and this time Cuba is squarely in the crosshairs. President Trump told reporters this week that the United States has “some very good plans for Cuba” and declared in no uncertain terms, “We have to get rid of the regime.” It’s a bold statement that signals the administration’s continued commitment to rolling back communist influence in America’s backyard. But there’s a catch—Trump made clear that Iran takes precedence for now. The President wants to handle the Middle East situation first before turning more attention to the island nation just 90 miles from Florida. The strategy makes sense from a prioritization standpoint, even if Cuban Americans eager for change might be frustrated by the delay. Trump also hinted at a vision for post-communist Cuba that includes something the regime has long denied its people: the freedom for Cuban Americans to return, visit relatives, and invest in the country they or their families fled. That’s the kind of economic opening that could transform the island if the political shackles were finally removed. For months, the administration has been squeezing Cuba’s fuel lifelines, targeting shipments and applying pressure where it hurts. The message is clear—communism’s days in Havana are numbered, even if the final act hasn’t begun. When it comes to confronting tyranny, Trump seems content to play the long game.
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