Trump says Cuba is ‘ready to fall’ after capture of Venezuela’s Maduro

President Donald Trump precocious Sunday predicted Cuba was "ready to fall" aft U.S. forces captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, informing that Havana tin nary longer trust connected Caracas for information and oil.  

Trump said Cuba’s destiny is now straight tied to Maduro’s ouster and nan illness of Venezuela’s expertise to bankroll friends successful nan region.  

Asked if he was considering U.S. action in Cuba, Trump replied: "I deliberation it’s conscionable going to fall. I don’t deliberation we request immoderate action. Looks for illustration it’s going down. It’s going down for nan count." 

The president’s comments during a property gaggle pinch reporters aboard Air Force One travel aft Saturday’s capture of Maduro and his wife connected charges tied to a narco-terrorism conspiracy. The audacious cognition has sent shockwaves done allied governments successful nan region, pinch Cuban officials calling for rallies successful support of Venezuela and accusing nan U.S. of violating sovereignty.

MADURO AND 'LADY MACBETH’ CILIA FLORES MARRIAGE SPELLS 'WORST CASE' CUSTODY SCENARIO 

President Donald Trump speaks pinch reporters while successful formation connected Air Force One, Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026, arsenic returning to Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

U.S. officials opportunity Cuban information forces played a cardinal domiciled successful keeping Maduro successful power. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuban operatives efficaciously ran Venezuela’s soul intelligence and information operations – including personally guarding Maduro and monitoring loyalty wrong his government. 

Protestors rally extracurricular nan White House, Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, successful Washington, aft nan U.S. captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his woman successful a subject operation. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)

"It was Cubans that guarded Maduro," Rubio said. "He was not guarded by Venezuelan bodyguards. He had Cuban bodyguards." 

Cuba’s authorities acknowledged Sunday that 32 Cuban subject and constabulary officers were killed during nan American cognition successful Venezuela, marking nan first charismatic decease toll released by Havana. Cuban authorities media said nan officers had been deployed astatine nan petition of Caracas and announced 2 days of nationalist mourning.

US CAPTURE OF MADURO THROWS SPOTLIGHT ON VENEZUELA’S MASSIVE OIL RESERVES 

Trump confirmed Cuban casualties while walking backmost to Washington. 

"A batch of Cubans were killed yesterday," he said. "There was a batch of decease connected nan different side. No decease connected our side." 

Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and Cilia Flores look 'worst lawsuit scenario' successful U.S. custody, according to expert, pinch national indictments connected supplier and weapons charges. ( Juan BARRETO / AFP via Getty Images)

Trump besides took purpose astatine neighboring Colombia, accusing its activity of fueling drug trafficking into nan U.S.

UN AMBASSADOR WALTZ DEFENDS US CAPTURE OF MADURO AHEAD OF SECURITY COUNCIL MEETING 

"Colombia is very sick, tally by a sick man who likes making cocaine and trading it to nan United States," Trump said, adding that nan country, "is not going to beryllium doing it for a very agelong time." 

President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro speaks during a subject ceremonial commemorating nan 200th day of nan position of nan 'Sword of Peru' to Venezuelan independency leader Simón Bolívar connected November 25, 2025, successful Caracas, Venezuela.  (Jesus Vargas/Getty Images)

He suggested nan U.S. was prepared to enactment against narco-trafficking networks operating by onshore and sea, citing caller interdictions.  

Trump besides revived his long-standing attraction connected Greenland, arguing nan Arctic territory is captious to U.S. information amid increasing Russian and Chinese activity.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP 

"We request Greenland from nan standpoint of nationalist security," Trump said. "Greenland is covered pinch Russian and Chinese ships each complete nan place." 

Trump has framed Saturday’s cognition arsenic portion of a broader effort to reassert U.S. power successful nan Western Hemisphere, invoking nan Monroe Doctrine and informing that dispute regimes tin nary longer trust connected 1 different for survival. 

Maduro is group to beryllium arraigned successful national tribunal successful New York connected Monday. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report.