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Trump: ‘We have Cuba on our mind’

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by Julia Manchester - 05/20/26 3:22 PM ET

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by Julia Manchester - 05/20/26 3:22 PM ET

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President Trump on Wednesday told reporters that the administration has Cuba “on our mind” following the Justice Department’s charging of former Cuban President Raúl Castro with murder.

“It’s very important,” Trump said. “It was a very big moment for people, not only Cuban Americans, but people who came from Cuba, that want to go back to Cuba, see their family in Cuba.”

Earlier on Wednesday, Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche traveled to Miami to announce the indictment “in conjunction with a ceremony to honor the victims of the Brothers to the Rescue.”

Four men were killed in 1996 when their planes, searching for those potentially seeking to leave the island and reach Florida’s shores, were shot down by the Cuban military, which was led by Castro at the time.

The indictment, which fell on Cuba’s independence day, comes amid recent threats from Trump to invade or take military action against the island.

However, on Wednesday, Trump told reporters there would not be U.S. escalation against Cuba.

“There won’t be escalation,” the president said. “I don’t think there needs to be. Look, the place is falling apart.”

The developments come after CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials on the island last week.

The CIA said Ratcliffe visited Cuba to “personally deliver President Trump’s message that the United States is prepared to seriously engage on economic and security issues, but only if Cuba makes fundamental changes.”

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