President Trump said Tuesday that no Republicans have ever approached him about his plans for Cuba, rebuffing critics within the GOP and taking full ownership of his Cuba policy.
“No Republican has ever spoken to me about Cuba, which is a failed country and only heading in one direction — down! Cuba is asking for help, and we are going to talk,” Mr. Trump said, adding extra exclamation points. “In the meantime, I’m off to China!”
While the vast majority of congressional Republicans back Mr. Trump’s hard-line posture toward Cuba, critics of a potential military intervention include GOP Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Susan Collins of Maine.
Mr. Trump has increased the U.S. pressure campaign against Havana, which his administration regards as a national security threat. Recently, the president said the U.S. would be “taking over” Cuba almost immediately.
He also discussed a possibility where he would position a U.S. aircraft carrier just outside Cuban waters when the Iran conflict has ended.
Mr. Trump has said Cuba would be the “next” military operation after Iran.
Mr. Trump recently signed an executive order broadening U.S. sanctions against the Cuban government.
Under the directive, property and financial interests tied to sanctioned individuals can be blocked, and U.S. persons are essentially banned from conducting transactions with them.
