U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is in high-level discussions with Cuban leaders, the president said.

President Donald Trump leaves the White House with press secretary Karoline Leavitt to board Marine One on Feb. 27, 2026. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
WASHINGTON—U.S. President Donald Trump said on Feb. 27 that Cuba faces significant challenges and floated the possibility of a “friendly takeover” of the island by the United States.
“The Cuban government is talking with us,“ Trump told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House as he left for a trip to Texas. ”They’re in a big deal of trouble.


