Trump Threatens to Deploy Aircraft Carrier Off Cuban Coast to Force 'Immediate Takeover'

During a private dinner at the Forum Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, Donald Trump threatened to position the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier '100 yards offshore' of Cuba to compel the regime's surrender, declaring the U.S. is poised to 'take over Cuba almost immediately.' He suggested this deployment could occur after concluding military operations against Iran. Trump also announced extended sanctions targeting foreign companies doing business with Havana. This represents a significant escalation in hostile rhetoric toward Cuba, threatening military coercion against a sovereign nation to achieve regime change. U.S. officials later clarified that no imminent military action is planned, highlighting the gap between Trump's threats and actual policy. The Forum Club event was a private dinner with supporters and donors, where Trump made these remarks alongside other foreign policy pronouncements.

"We're going to take over Cuba almost immediately. We could put an aircraft carrier 100 yards offshore." — Remarks made during a private dinner at the Forum Club in West Palm Beach, Florida, discussing foreign policy plans including military operations against Iran and Cuba.