Trump Says Cuba “Is Gonna Fall Pretty Soon” As Regime Faces Mounting Pressure

President Donald Trump said Friday that Cuba’s communist government may be nearing collapse, claiming the island’s leaders are eager to negotiate with the United States after decades of hostility.

During a phone interview with CNN host Dana Bash, Trump said the Cuban regime is increasingly desperate for a deal as economic conditions on the island continue to deteriorate. The president suggested the communist government has little leverage left after years of mismanagement and external pressure.

“Cuba is gonna fall pretty soon,” Trump said. “They want to make a deal so badly. They want to make a deal.”

Trump said he plans to put Secretary of State Marco Rubio in charge of handling any potential negotiations with the Cuban government. Rubio, whose parents fled Cuba after the communist takeover, has long been one of the most vocal critics of the regime in Havana.

The president noted that his administration is currently focused on the escalating situation involving Iran but suggested that Cuba could quickly become a priority once that conflict is resolved.

“We’re really focused on this one right now,” Trump said. “We’ve got plenty of time, but Cuba’s ready, after 50 years.”

Cuba’s economy has been spiraling in recent months after the United States cut off key streams of oil and financial support flowing from Venezuela earlier this year. The move has reportedly led to widespread fuel shortages, rolling power outages, and growing food scarcity across the island.

Trump also spoke about Cuba during a White House event Thursday honoring Inter Miami CF, the 2025 Major League Soccer champions. Addressing a crowd that included many South Florida residents and Cuban Americans, the president suggested that major changes could soon open the door for people to return to the island.

“We think that we want to finish this one first, but that will be just a question of time before you and a lot of unbelievable people are going to be going back to Cuba,” Trump said.

The president also praised Rubio for his work on Cuba policy and suggested the secretary of state could play a key role in what happens next.

“You’ve been doing a fantastic job on a place called Cuba,” Trump told Rubio during the event.

Trump has increasingly argued that decades of communist rule in Cuba have pushed the country to the brink. With the island now facing deep economic turmoil, the president said the regime may soon have no choice but to negotiate with the United States.