Trump says US discussing ‘friendly takeover’ of Cuba: ‘they’re in big trouble’

US President Donald Trump suggested a possible “friendly takeover of Cuba” as the White House looks to leverage the Communist-run island’s energy crisis to exert greater influence.

“They’re in big trouble, and we could very well do something good, I think, very positive for the people that were expelled, or worse, from Cuba that live here,” Trump told reporters on Friday as he departed the White House for Texas.

“You know, we have people living here that want to go back to Cuba.”

“We could very well end up having a friendly takeover of Cuba,” he added.

Trump’s comments are some of his most fulsome yet on his plans for Cuba, which has been under severe pressure from the US.

Earlier this week, the administration announced plans to allow fuel shipments from American energy companies to private Cuban businesses.