Grant Cardone, a prominent real estate tycoon and close associate of former President Donald Trump, ignited discussions on the future of Cuba with a bold prediction. On Tuesday, he took to X to declare, "The U.S. will acquire Cuba. Mark my words," alongside a Caribbean map highlighting the island in orange.
Cardone did not clarify what he meant by "acquire" or how this vision might become a reality. His statement surfaces amid increasing pressure from Washington on the Cuban government, echoing past remarks made by Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio concerning Cuba's prospects.
The bond between Cardone and Trump extends beyond political alignment. Both men have amassed their wealth and media presence in the real estate industry, embracing aggressive growth as a core philosophy. Cardone leads Cardone Capital, a company managing a real estate portfolio reportedly worth around $5.3 billion.
Their connection is both strong and well-documented. Cardone addressed a massive Trump rally at Madison Square Garden in October 2024, attended the election night at Mar-a-Lago that November, and hosted Trump as the keynote speaker at his 10X conferences in 2021 and 2022. His tweet about Cuba seems to echo their shared worldview: viewing the island as an expansion opportunity rather than just a geopolitical matter.
Cardone frequently uses phrases like "mark my words" to frame his predictions as future certainties, a strategy that has cemented his influence in American finance and entrepreneurship circles.
The political backdrop implies that this message isn't merely an isolated remark. Throughout 2026, Trump has often employed "acquisition" rhetoric concerning Cuba, reminiscent of his previous remarks about Greenland and the Panama Canal. In March, he mentioned a potential "friendly acquisition" and later expressed his desire to "have the honor of taking Cuba."
During an October 23 rally in Fort Myers, Florida, Trump was even more direct: "We'll handle Cuba after Iran. Those beautiful ships will pass Cuba," announcing plans to send Rubio to "seal the deal."
Two days later, Rubio stated that Cuba "needs a very drastic change" and described the situation as "completely different" from Venezuela, though he did not specify any concrete measures.
Pressure on the regime of Raúl Castro and Miguel Díaz-Canel has intensified since U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro on January 3, 2026, stripping Havana of its key regional ally.
"We believe Cuba needs a very drastic change, and it's a completely different case from Venezuela. The situation is very different, and I'll leave it at that," Rubio remarked during an October 26 teleconference with journalists.
Understanding U.S. Intentions Toward Cuba
What did Grant Cardone predict regarding Cuba?
Grant Cardone predicted that the United States would acquire Cuba, a statement that he shared on X without offering further details on how this would occur.
How has the U.S. political landscape influenced these predictions?
The U.S. political landscape, particularly the rhetoric from Donald Trump and Marco Rubio, has set a backdrop for these predictions, with increasing pressure on Cuba's government and talk of potential acquisitions.
What is the significance of Grant Cardone's relationship with Donald Trump?
Grant Cardone and Donald Trump share a background in real estate and a common philosophy of aggressive expansion, which lends weight to Cardone's predictions and aligns with Trump's previous statements about Cuba.