Trump Asserts "I Can Control Israel"... Hints at Venezuela-Style Operation in Cuba

Interview with U.S. Online Media Outlet Axios

Positive Remarks on Xi Jinping and Modi

U.S. President Donald Trump has reiterated his criticism of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, stating that he can fully prevent Israel's attack on Lebanon, which has become the biggest variable in the implementation of the memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war with Iran.

Yonhap News Agency

In an interview with the U.S. online media outlet Axios, released on June 19 (local time), President Trump was asked if he could stop Israel from attacking Lebanon, to which he replied, "Yes. I can. They have great respect for me. They do what I say." While he emphasized that his relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu, with whom he has clashed multiple times during the peace negotiations over the Lebanon issue, remains "good," Trump added, "We just have to keep him a little bit in check."

President Trump stressed that the most important point in the peace MOU is "Iran will never have nuclear weapons. They will never have nuclear weapons." Addressing criticism that the regime change in Iran, which he mentioned at the beginning of the conflict, has not taken place, he responded, "We are dealing with the third group in Iran (after the removal of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei). That is regime change," and added, "Khamenei Junior (Mojtaba) is different from his father."

At one point, President Trump had said, "After Iran, it's Cuba's turn." When asked whether a military operation against Cuba would proceed similarly to the operation carried out in Venezuela earlier this year, he replied, "It's possible. It could be." He went on to say, "Venezuela is relatively close, and Cuba is right next door. In contrast, Iran is very far away." This is interpreted as suggesting that, due to geographical proximity, an operation similar to the one earlier this year in which Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was arrested and extradited could be conducted in Cuba.

The Trump administration last month indicted Raul Castro, the de facto leader of Cuba. This has led to speculation that the U.S. government may be planning a similar operation in Cuba to the one earlier this year, when Maduro, who had also been indicted by the U.S., was arrested and extradited to New York under the pretext of law enforcement.

President Trump stated that great national leaders have the common traits of intelligence and toughness, and commented, "A very smart person is Chinese President Xi Jinping." He continued, "I told President Xi, 'I would really appreciate it if you did not get involved (in the Iran issue),' and he was great. He did not get involved." Trump also added that "Modi (Prime Minister of India) is also a very outstanding leader."

Responding to criticism that he has been conciliatory toward Russia, which is in conflict with Western countries over the war in Ukraine, President Trump said, "I am not kind to Russia. I was very tough on Russia. I was also very tough on China," adding, "That is why they respect me."

He also revealed, as something previously unknown, that on the first day of the war in Ukraine, a Russian general moved his tanks onto a muddy farm road due to heavy rain, which caused them to become stuck in the mud and ultimately be destroyed by Javelin anti-tank missiles that he had provided to Ukraine. He went on to say, "If that general had just gone straight down the concrete highway, they would have reached Kyiv (the capital of Ukraine) within four hours," and claimed, "That war would have ended in a single day."

This interview took place immediately after President Trump returned from attending the Group of Seven (G7) summit held in France from June 15 to 17. He stated that if the Group of Eight (G8), including Russia, had been maintained, the war in Ukraine would not have broken out. President Trump commented, "I was actually not going to attend (the G7 summit). But (French President Emmanuel Macron) knew my weakness, because I love the Palace of Versailles." Regarding reports that he said "I'm the boss" upon entering the G7 summit venue, he explained, "I just said it in a cute, playful way," and clarified, "I wasn't trying to be the boss."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.