Trump's "Empty Promises" on Cuba Met with Cuban Skepticism and Sarcasm

During a Republican rally in Fort Myers, Florida, President Donald Trump made remarks about Cuba that sparked a wave of skepticism and sarcasm among Cubans both on the island and abroad. Many interpreted his words as mere election rhetoric, with the midterm elections just around the corner on November 3rd.

The event was held to support the Republican candidate for Florida governor, Byron Donalds. Trump suggested that military ships would sail past Cuban shores on their return from operations in Iran. "What we're going to do with Cuba is when we come back from Iran, those beautiful ships will pass by Cuba. We'll have one stop about 50 yards from the coast. They'll raise their hands," he joked.

Trump also mentioned that he would leave Secretary of State Marco Rubio in charge of "closing the deal": "We don't even have to stop. We can just leave it there and he'll take care of it. He's a great guy."

Although these comments did not indicate any official military action or agreement with Cuba, they were enough to ignite social media with disbelief. "Blah blah blah... the strategy is called NOVEMBER," one user posted. Others likened Trump to "Scheherazade" and referenced long-winded stories, encapsulating their collective fatigue with repeated promises without tangible results.

The link between Trump's statements and the electoral calendar was a common theme in the reactions. "He remembered Cuba just days before November, what a coincidence," one commenter noted. Another quipped, "Ah, of course, the midterm elections are here, I almost forgot. Get excited, Miami." A third voice added, "He's looking for votes, he's got us fooled."

Even those who still believed in such promises expressed skepticism. "The worst part is that some still believe him," lamented one user. Another echoed the sentiment of accumulated frustration, saying, "We've been hearing this since Maduro's capture, but nothing is done against this regime." Many demanded action: "If you're going to do something, do it now. If not, stop giving false hopes to Cubans."

This is not the first time Trump has made such remarks. In May 2026, he first proposed sending the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln near the Cuban coast after operations in Iran. He repeated the idea at the "Shield of the Americas" summit in New York in September, and in July, he claimed "many things will happen in Cuba" within two months. Each time, Cuban reactions mirrored a growing skepticism.

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla responded on social media platform X, rejecting any threats regarding U.S. ambitions towards Cuba. "Our coasts have beautiful beaches, but also hostile terrain for those arriving with hostile intentions and a thirst for domination," he stated.

The electoral context partly explains the intensity of the public's rejection. The November 3rd elections will determine all 435 seats in the House of Representatives and 35 Senate positions, with Florida being a pivotal state. Although Trump secured 68% of the Cuban American vote in 2024, this support faces challenges in 2026 due to Cuban deportations and living costs. Guillermo Grenier, a researcher at Florida International University, suggested that increased Republican abstention is more likely than a shift towards Democrats.

Meanwhile, on the island, the reality remains grim. "In the prison island, people don't even have food," one user summarized, highlighting the broader discontent that discussions about ships and promises occur while Cuba continues to suffer from blackouts, shortages, and crisis.