President Donald Trump tied a pledge to address U.S. concerns about Cuba to the end of the Iran war, as rising oil prices added to Republicans’ political pressure before the Nov. 3 midterms, Reuters reported.
At a campaign rally in Fort Myers, Florida, on Oct. 23, Trump said he would take up the Cuba issue once the conflict with Iran was settled. He also left open the prospect of additional U.S. military action in Iran, Reuters reported.
The remarks came as oil prices spiked. Reuters said Trump was seeking to address the causes of the increase, which the news agency described as a political liability for Republicans ahead of the election.
The appearance was intended to help Florida Republican Byron Donalds in his campaign for governor against Democrat David Jolly, Reuters reported. Cuban Americans are an important voting bloc in Florida, according to the news agency, which put Trump’s share of their vote in the state at 68% in 2024.
EconoTimes previously covered the Cuba remarks in an earlier report on Trump’s comments and Rubio’s post. Reuters said Secretary of State Marco Rubio has been handling much of Trump’s Cuba-related policy.
Cuba is facing fuel shortages and blackouts, with failing infrastructure worsening outages and a U.S.-imposed oil blockade adding to the strain, Reuters reported. The news agency said U.N. human rights experts condemned the blockade as a violation of international law. Reuters also cited rights advocates who said the administration’s threats reflected an imperialist approach.
Trump has increased pressure on Cuba during his second term, Reuters reported. At the U.N. General Assembly in September, he called Cuba a “failed state” and said freedom would come to the island, prompting the Cuban delegation to walk out. The next scheduled milestone is the Nov. 3 midterm election.
