Trump faces bipartisan pushback over potential military action against Cuba amid growing frustration with regime

President Trump faces bipartisan congressional opposition to potential military action against Cuba in May 2026, with over 30 lawmakers and multiple Senate Republicans warning against opening a second military front while the U.S. remains entangled in a costly conflict with Iran. Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other GOP senators prefer letting tightened economic sanctions and the existing naval blockade pressure Cuba's socialist government to fall organically, citing concerns about military overextension and voter displeasure in the midterm election year. The Iran conflict has already consumed the Pentagon's $150 billion allocation from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act far faster than projected, with the administration considering an $80-100 billion supplemental request. Trump has escalated pressure on Cuba since capturing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026, imposing a naval blockade and increasing intelligence flights, though Republican sentiment appears to be shifting against military strikes despite the GOP blocking a Democratic War Powers resolution in April 2026.

Republican opposition to Cuba strikes

• ▪James Lankford (R-Okla.) serves as vice chair of the Senate Republican Conference as of May 13, 2026.
• ▪Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) stated on May 13, 2026 that the conflict with Iran is a top national security priority.
• ▪Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) led a bipartisan congressional delegation trip to China in the week ending May 9, 2026.

Iran conflict as priority

• ▪President Trump warned on May 13, 2026 that the ceasefire with Iran is on life support.
• ▪President Trump dismissed the Iranian counteroffer for a peace deal on May 13, 2026 as a piece of garbage.
• ▪Diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran have made little to no progress as of May 13, 2026.
• ▪The United States and Iran have a fragile ceasefire in place as of May 13, 2026.
• ▪President Trump raised the prospect of the fight with Iran lasting weeks or months longer as of May 13, 2026.

Military overextension concerns

• ▪Congressional officials expect the Trump administration will spend all of the $150 billion the One Big Beautiful Bill Act allocated for the Pentagon by the end of 2026.
• ▪The Trump administration has floated the possibility of requesting an $80 billion to $100 billion defense supplemental spending package to cover the costs of the war with Iran.
• ▪The Trump administration has not sent a formal defense supplemental spending request to Capitol Hill as of May 13, 2026.
• ▪The $150 billion Pentagon allocation from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was initially projected to last more than four years.

Trump administration Cuba threats

• ▪President Trump declared at a speech to an investment forum in Miami in March 2026 that Cuba's next.
• ▪U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026.
• ▪President Trump said earlier in May 2026 that U.S. forces will take over Cuba almost immediately.

War Powers resolution

• ▪Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.) were the only two Republicans to vote in favor of the War Powers resolution on Cuba in April 2026.
• ▪Senate Republicans argued in April 2026 that there was no military action against Cuba at the time of the War Powers resolution vote.
• ▪Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) raised a point-of-order objection to discharging the War Powers resolution on Cuba from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in April 2026.
• ▪Senate Republicans blocked a resolution sponsored by Democrats in April 2026 under the 1973 War Powers Act to prohibit President Trump from deploying U.S. military forces against Cuba.

Perspective of President Trump

• ▪President Trump views Cuba as the next target after U.S. forces captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in January 2026.

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