Dem
47
GOP
53
There have been endless polls showing what voters care about is "affordability." Despite this, Donald Trump seems to be primarily interested in foreign affairs (plus deportations, which is "foreign affairs"-adjacent). As if starting a war for regime change in Iran isn't putting enough on his plate, he is also talking about regime change in Cuba as well. After all, he decapitated the regime in nearby Venezuela (but by no means changed the regime), but ONLY its head. So why not Cuba as well? He is definitely feeling his oats now.
The goal in Cuba would be a "friendly takeover" rather than a "hostile takeover." In other words, if the communist government there would simply hang up its hammer and sickle and leave, it could be done peacefully. Maybe Trump could offer the leaders discounts on condos in Trump Towers II in Sunny Isles Beach, FL. The towers are about an hour and a quarter south of Mar-a-Lago, but as compensation it is a 3-min walk to Playa Naturista and a 4-min walk to Haulover Nude Beach.
So far, there is no indication that Cuba's president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, who is nominally in charge, or Raúl Castro (Fidel's kid brother), who is still influential, is interested in the deal. Given that the Castros have fought the U.S. bitterly for 60 years, thinking that the new sheriff in town is suddenly going to make them switch sides is a pipe dream.
But Trump has a not-so-secret plan to starve the island into submission. The U.S. has had a trade embargo in place since the failed Bay of Pigs invasion attempt in 1962. Trump ended the shipments of Venezuelan oil to Cuba after capturing Nicolás Maduro. The last fuel shipment was on Jan. 9, and supplies have just about run out. Cuba does produce a little bit of oil domestically, but nowhere near the 100,000 barrels a day it needs. That means almost no cars, no buses, no trucks to move food to stores, and no electricity (for example, to pump water). Hunger and disease are becoming rampant.
There is some humanitarian aid at the ports, but there is no fuel for trucks to distribute it where it is needed. Trump officials have touted some $9 million in aid it has sent to the island via a Catholic charity, but said: "Any difficulties in deploying this aid is because of the regime's impediments, not fuel shortages." The "impediments" consist of the leaders refusing to leave and be replaced by leaders Trump wants.
As with so many things, Trump should be careful of what he is wishing for. Imagine that the Cuban leadership makes a deal with Trump and leaves, truly free elections are held, and tons of aid is delivered (something Marco Rubio would like very much). If Cuba gets back on its feet and becomes a thriving democracy, many of the refugees in Florida might decide to move back, reducing the number of Republican voters in the state. (V)