WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is signaling a tougher stance toward Cuba as President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio tied a historic indictment and renewed criticism of the island’s communist leadership to calls for political change and economic reform.
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Trump spoke outside Air Force One on Wednesday, as he weighed in on the historic indictment, calling it a significant moment for many people.
“It’s not going to be like the biggest thing we’ve ever done, but I can tell you to a lot of people. It’s going to be one of the most important,” he said. “They have been looking for this moment for 65 years.”
The comments came as Rubio marked Cuban Independence Day with a video message directed at the people of Cuba.
“In the U.S., we are ready to open a new chapter in the relationship between our people and our countries,” he said. “And, currently, the only thing standing in the way of a better future are those who control your country.”
Rubio blamed Cuba’s communist leadership for keeping resources such as food, gas and electricity from the Cuban people. He said the U.S. blockade has only exaggerated the problem.
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Trump also spoke about the Cuban people and the large Cuban-American community in Miami.
“No energy at all, but they do have great people, a lot of great people,” he said. “I have so many Cuban friends, mostly in Miami in Florida, and they are unbelievable people and they want to go back. Hopefully they’re going to want live here, but they want to go back. Maybe they’ll invest. We’ll see what happens.”
On Capitol Hill, South Florida Republicans reacted strongly to the federal indictment, with U.S. Rep. Carlos Gimenez saying, “we’ve been waiting for this day.”
U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart called the case “premeditated murder.”
“We have a different president now — we have a president who is not willing to look the other way,” he said.
U.S. Sen. Rick Scott also weighed in.
“What they started in Venezuela, and now they’re doing here, to make sure we starve the regime of resources.”
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