The Pentagon has reportedly ramped up Cuba preparations on Donald Trump's orders.
'Another Abduction': Is Donald Trump Planning a Maduro-Style Mission for Cuba?
April 14 2026, Published 6:57 p.m. ET
Recent reports indicate that the Trump administration might be quietly preparing potential military options against Cuba in the near future.
The military action, if conducted, may include a possible abduction operation targeting the Cuban leadership, according to two anonymous political insiders cited by Zeteo.
The mission might be similar to what had happened in Venezuela earlier this year, which included the kidnapping of the then president of the country Nicolás Maduro.
The reports emerge as negotiations between the U.S. and Cuba continue, with President Donald Trump expressing frustration over what insiders describe as "open defiance from the Cuban government."
As a result, Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel might find himself in the crosshairs of the White House and the Trump administration.
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According to Zeteo, two anonymous political insiders have come forward and said that the situation around Cuba has tensed further in recent days.
One of the sources said that officials at the Pentagon were quietly provided with a new directive, coming “straight from the Trump White House.”
The message reportedly directs the departments to “ramp up your preparations for possible military operations against Cuba.”
The sources said that Trump has not yet made a final decision on military action or negotiations regarding Cuba.
If diplomatic efforts fail, however, the Trump administration may order U.S. forces to conduct "another abduction operation against some of the Cuban leadership," according to the report.
The move would reportedly resemble the January 2026 capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
The reports followed Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel's interview with NBC News, in which he said he is prepared to die defending his country.
‘We May Stop By Cuba’
During a press conference on Monday, April 13, a reporter asked the president about the restriction of fuel shipments to Cuba.
To this, Trump responded by saying, “Cuba is another story,” and described it as a poorly run country with a sub-par system and an oppressive government.
The president added that the Cuban people have been treated harshly, and in some cases, have had to deal with the loss of family members owing to violence.
An X post shows Donald Trump sharing his views on Cuba.
"They've been beaten up and mugged and like terrible things happened in Cuba. And Cuba is a failing nation," Trump further stated, adding that the country had been poorly run for years under Fidel Castro's rule.
Trump opined that these reasons make the Caribbean country a failing nation.
The president claimed that once the United States ends the ongoing crisis in Iran, “we may stop by Cuba,” reiterating his view that the country has been poorly governed by its leaders.