{"id":46967,"date":"2026-03-01T13:39:41","date_gmt":"2026-03-01T21:39:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/?p=46967"},"modified":"2026-03-01T13:39:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-01T21:39:42","slug":"peace-president-trump-floats-friendly-takeover-of-cuba-while-preparing-to-attack-iran","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2026\/03\/01\/peace-president-trump-floats-friendly-takeover-of-cuba-while-preparing-to-attack-iran\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Peace President\u2019 Trump Floats \u2018Friendly Takeover\u2019 of Cuba While Preparing to Attack Iran"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/media-library\/us-president-donald-trump-departs-white-house-en-route-corpus-christi-texas.jpg?id=65098687&amp;width=1200&amp;height=400&amp;quality=70&amp;coordinates=0%2C520%2C0%2C1148\" alt=\"US President Donald Trump departs White House en route Corpus Christi, Texas\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>US President Donald Trump speaks to the press before he departs the White House in Washington, DC en route to Corpus Christi, Texas on February 27, 2026.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>(Photo by Celal Gunes\/Anadolu via Getty Images)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">\u201cTrump ran on an explicitly anti-interventionist platform when he ran for president,\u201d noted one critic. \u201cHe lied to the American people.\u201d<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/author\/brett-wilkins\">Brett Wilkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feb 27, 2026 (CommonDreams.org)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the world braces for a possible US war on Iran and people in&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/venezuela\">Venezuela<\/a>,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/nigeria\">Nigeria<\/a>, and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/yemen\">Yemen<\/a>&nbsp;still reel from recent US attacks, President Donald Trump\u2014the self-proclaimed \u201cpeace president\u201d who has bombed more countries than any other American administration\u2014said Friday that the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/united-states\">United States<\/a>&nbsp;may launch a \u201cfriendly takeover\u201d of&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/cuba\">Cuba<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe Cuban government is talking with us, they\u2019re in a big deal of trouble, as you know,\u201d Trump told reporters outside the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/white-house\">White House<\/a>&nbsp;before departing for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/texas\">Texas<\/a>. \u201cThey have no money. They have no anything right now. But they\u2019re talking to us, and maybe we\u2019ll have a friendly takeover of Cuba.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>RECOMMENDED&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/trump-and-cuba\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/media-library\/cuban-street.jpg?id=64943971&amp;width=1200&amp;height=1200&amp;quality=70&amp;coordinates=333%2C0%2C334%2C0\" alt=\"Cuban street\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/trump-and-cuba\">Trump Now \u2018Boasting of a War Crime\u2019 as Cuba Suffers Under Oil Blockade<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/trumps-war-with-iran\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/media-library\/image-shoes-us-military-planes-headed-to-the-midde-east.jpg?id=64958394&amp;width=1200&amp;height=1200&amp;quality=70&amp;coordinates=486%2C0%2C487%2C0\" alt=\"image shoes US military planes headed to the midde east\"\/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/trumps-war-with-iran\">\u2018The Tankers Just Keep Coming\u2019: US Military Movements Spike Fears of Imminent Attack on Iran<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">BREAKING: Trump floats a \u201cfriendly takeover\u201d of Cuba while he pushes the U.S. closer to war in Iran. Trump ran on an explicitly anti-interventionist platform when he ran for president. He lied to the American people. <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/zs58bXb7Mw\">pic.twitter.com\/zs58bXb7Mw<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Trump Lie Tracker (Commentary Account) (@MAGALieTracker) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/MAGALieTracker\/status\/2027448188790313216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">February 27, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Cuban Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fern\u00e1ndez de Coss\u00edo posted on&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/social-media\">social media<\/a>&nbsp;Friday that \u201cthe US maintains its&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/canada-cuba-aid-package\">fuel embargo<\/a>&nbsp;against Cuba in full force, and its impact as a form of collective punishment is unwavering.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cNothing announced in recent days changes this reality,\u201d he added. \u201cThe&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/business\/energy\/us-allow-resale-venezuelan-oil-cuba-treasury-department-says-2026-02-25\/\">possibility<\/a>&nbsp;of conditional sales to the private sector already existed and does not alleviate the impact on the Cuban population.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trump\u2019s comments sparked criticism on social media, with one X user&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/OparaUmuguma\/status\/2027449810198876576\">writing<\/a>: \u201cA \u2018friendly takeover\u2019 is an interesting phrase in international diplomacy. If the US is discussing Cuba\u2019s future, I\u2019m sure [Russian President]&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/vladimir-putin\">Vladimir Putin<\/a>&nbsp;is suddenly very interested in the definition of friendly\u2019 too.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>University of North Texas, Dallas political&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/science\">science<\/a>&nbsp;professor Orlando P\u00e9rez&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Perez1oj\/status\/2027456192100843896\">said<\/a>&nbsp;on X that \u201cmore often than not, [Trump\u2019s] mouth is his worst enemy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThis BS plays into the hands of hard-liners on both sides of the Florida Straits and reduces chances of a negotiated deal,\u201d he added. \u201cWhy would anyone in Cuba agree to a deal that leads to a US \u2018takeover\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Meanwhile, dozens of civil society groups on Friday sent a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.lawg.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/CSO-Letter-Cuba-w-Signatories.pdf\">letter<\/a>&nbsp;to Congress urging lawmakers \u201cto press the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/trump-administration\">Trump administration<\/a>&nbsp;to reverse its aggressive policy towards Cuba.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cInstead, Congress should call on the administration to expand humanitarian relief, support political and economic engagement, and foster a more vibrant private sector that can deliver a better quality of life for the Cuban people,\u201d added the groups, which include Alianza Americas,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/american-friends-service-committee\">American Friends Service Committee<\/a>, CodePink, Demand Progress, Peace Action, Presbyterian Church USA, RootsAction, United Church of Christ, and Win Without War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trump\u2019s remarks Friday came in response to a question from&nbsp;<em>NBC News<\/em>&nbsp;senior White House correspondent Gabe Gutierrez regarding Wednesday\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/trump-cuba\">incident<\/a>&nbsp;in which Cuban maritime defense forces killed four men and captured six others during a shootout with a Florida-registered speedboat allegedly carrying weapons intended for what Havana called \u201can infiltration for terrorist purposes.\u201d South Florida has long been a base for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/right-wing\">right-wing<\/a>&nbsp;Cuban exiles who have launched numerous terror attacks against the Cuban people and international tourists on the island,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonpost.com\/archive\/politics\/1992\/10\/15\/cuban-exiles-say-they-attacked-hotel-from-boat\/7cabb9c9-83d2-42e1-81e6-472a4236f16e\/\">including by speedboat strafings<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Trump did not clarify his comments, seemingly suggesting that moves to topple Cuba\u2019s socialist government\u2014which has outlasted a dozen US presidents\u2014could be freshly afoot. Since Cubans overthrew a brutal US-backed dictatorship in 1959, the United States or allied exile forces&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/world\/2006\/aug\/03\/cuba.duncancampbell2\">tried to assassinate<\/a>&nbsp;former Cuban President Fidel Castro hundreds of times, backed an&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.jfklibrary.org\/learn\/about-jfk\/jfk-in-history\/the-bay-of-pigs\">ill-fated invasion<\/a>&nbsp;at Bay of Pigs,&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/iadllaw.org\/files\/Marjorie%20Cohn%20The%20Cuban%20Fives%20campaign%20against%20terrorism.pdf\">served as a base<\/a>&nbsp;for&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.counterpunch.org\/2018\/05\/28\/luis-posada-carriles-hemispheres-most-wanted-terrorist-dies-free-in-miami-at-age-90\/\">perpetrators<\/a>&nbsp;of some of the hemisphere\u2019s&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/views\/2020\/01\/10\/ukraine-airliner-tragedy-evokes-memories-us-iran-air-shootdown-cubana-flight-455\">worst terror attacks<\/a>, and even&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1997\/11\/23\/weekinreview\/stupid-dirty-tricks-the-trouble-with-assassinations.html\">hatched a plan<\/a>&nbsp;to detonate a nuclear bomb high above the island to convince its people that the return of Jesus Christ was nigh and the only thing standing in the way of the so-called \u201cSecond Coming\u201d was Castro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A 64-year US economic embargo on Cuba, which Trump recently worsened by cutting off fuel, has been a leading force crippling Cuba\u2019s economy and is now being blamed for a&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/cuba-infant-mortality\">soaring infant mortality<\/a>&nbsp;on the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Friday\u2019s remarks by Trump came as Iranians and people across the Middle East and beyond are bracing for a possible US attack on Iran\u2014the second in as many years\u2014and less than than two months after the president ordered the bombing and invasion of Venezuela during an operation that ended with Venezuelan President Nicol\u00e1s Maduro&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/news\/nicolas-maduro\">abducted<\/a>&nbsp;and jailed in United States, where he is expected to face trial for dubious narco-trafficking charges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If the US strikes Cuba, it will be the 11th country attacked during Trump\u2019s two terms in office. The president\u2014who says he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize\u2014has ordered attacks on Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/libya\">Libya<\/a>, Nigeria,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/pakistan\">Pakistan<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/somalia\">Somalia<\/a>,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/syria\">Syria<\/a>, Venezuela, and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/tag\/yemen\">Yemen<\/a>, and has bombed dozens of boats allegedly transporting drugs in international waters in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/author\/brett-wilkins\">Brett Wilkins<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brett Wilkins is a staff writer for Common Dreams.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.commondreams.org\/author\/brett-wilkins\">Full Bio &gt;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>US President Donald Trump speaks to the press before he departs the White House in Washington, DC en route to Corpus Christi, Texas on February 27, 2026.&nbsp; (Photo by Celal Gunes\/Anadolu via Getty Images) \u201cTrump ran on an explicitly anti-interventionist platform when he ran for president,\u201d noted one critic. \u201cHe&#8230; <a class=\"continue-reading-link\" href=\"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/2026\/03\/01\/peace-president-trump-floats-friendly-takeover-of-cuba-while-preparing-to-attack-iran\/\"> Continue reading <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr; <\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46967"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=46967"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46967\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":46968,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/46967\/revisions\/46968"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=46967"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=46967"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/occupysf.net\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=46967"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}