Trump's Cuba remarks to the UN General Assembly

President of the United States, addressing the 81st UN General Assembly

“My administration is also seeking a fundamental change in the situation in Cuba, where the communist regime is under great pressure, the biggest pressure they've ever been under. It's an absolutely failed state. It's failing like never before, and it will fall.”
Read the original text (opens in a new tab)September 22, 2026: Address before the 81st United Nations General Assembly

Source and context

Original text

September 22, 2026: Address before the 81st United Nations General Assembly (opens in a new tab)

About this source

Record of President Trump's September 22, 2026 address to the UN General Assembly, sourced by the Miller Center from the White House. The address covers the war with Iran, the Western Hemisphere, Venezuela, Mexico and Cuba. In the Cuba passage, Trump calls Cuba an absolutely failed state, says it will fall, and says his administration is seeking a fundamental change in Cuba.

Archived copy (opens in a new tab)

Before the quotation

The address came after months of U.S. pressure on Cuba, including a January 29, 2026 executive order threatening tariffs on countries that export fuel to the island.

After the quotation

The Cuban delegation walked out of the hall during the remarks. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez answered on X the same day, calling Trump's claims falsehoods and saying Cuba is not a threat.

How this statement is classified

Defended or excused

Case context: Should the United States seek "fundamental change" in Cuba's government?

The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.

Why this label?

Trump's statement asserts and defends the objective the case asks about: openly seeking fundamental change in Cuba's government.

Recorded on
Published here
People and groups discussed
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Cuba
Members of Cuba's delegation leave the United Nations General Assembly during Donald Trump's speech.
Credit: UNTV, via The Guardian

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