Trump Suggests US Could Take Over Cuba Amid Rising Tensions

In a series of provocative statements, US President Donald Trump has suggested that the United States could carry out a "friendly takeover" of Cuba, amid rising tensions between the two nations. The comments, made on Friday as Trump left the White House for a campaigning event in Texas, have sparked concerns about the potential for military action against the island nation.

According to Trump, the Cuban government is "talking with us" and is "in a big deal of trouble." While he gave no further details, it has been widely reported that US officials had met with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of 94-year-old Raúl Castro, on the sidelines of the Caribbean leaders' summit.

The president's comments come as tensions between the US and Cuba have reached a new high following the capture of Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro. Trump has been a vocal critic of the Venezuelan leader, and his administration has imposed a series of sanctions on the country.

Meanwhile, US-Iran nuclear talks have stalled, with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi saying that the US needs to drop its "excessive demands" in order for a deal to be reached. The talks, which have been ongoing for several weeks, have been seen as a key test of the Trump administration's ability to negotiate a nuclear deal with a foreign power.

In a separate development, Trump has also weighed in on the recent comments made by actor Robert De Niro, who has been a vocal critic of the president. Conservative pundit Bill O'Reilly has called on the Department of Justice to "make an example" of De Niro by investigating and possibly jailing him for his comments.

In other news, US soccer player Josh Sargent has completed a $22m move from Norwich City to Toronto FC, ending a difficult situation in which the striker was exiled to the under-21 squad after he refused to play in an FA Cup match last month.

Trump is also set to deliver remarks on energy policy in Texas on Friday afternoon, just days before voters in the Lone Star State hit the polls in one of the nation's first 2026 midterm primary elections. While Trump is visiting the state in an official capacity, observers are eagerly waiting to see if he issues an endorsement in the closely watched Republican primary.

The president's comments on Cuba and Iran have sparked concerns about the potential for military action, and have raised questions about the Trump administration's foreign policy priorities. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the US will proceed in its dealings with both nations.