DeSantis calls for Cuba’s government to be 'put out to pasture'

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis called for Cuba’s communist government to be 'put out to pasture' during a bill-signing event on Friday. 'If you look at the state of Cuba today and in 2026, it is time for the Cuban communist dictatorship to be put out to pasture once and for all,' DeSantis said. He framed his remarks around a new Florida law restricting Cuban-linked businesses operating in violation of U.S. sanctions. 'You can't do business with criminals,' DeSantis stated. The governor also referenced President Donald Trump’s aggressive posture toward Cuba, noting that Trump has 'reinvigorated the Monroe Doctrine,' a 19th-century U.S. policy advocating intervention in the Western Hemisphere. Earlier this year, Trump hinted at potential military action against Cuba, stating he might 'take' the island. DeSantis did not explicitly call for military intervention but suggested some degree of U.S. involvement could align with Trump’s policies. Senator Marco Rubio has also criticized Cuba’s leadership amid ongoing blackouts and unrest on the island.