Amid deadlock over D.C. and Puerto Rico, conservatives are eyeing Cuba—a crumbling socialist neighbor just 90 miles from Florida—as the most strategic and politically plausible candidate for America’s 51st state.
At a Glance
- President Trump has floated acquiring new territories including Greenland and Gaza, but Cuba may be the most realistic candidate
- Traditional candidates like D.C. and Puerto Rico face significant political and constitutional obstacles
- Cuba’s failed socialist economy makes it potentially ripe for U.S. influence and development
- Strategic concerns about Chinese influence in Cuba could motivate U.S. interest in the island
- Americans’ deep dissatisfaction with current politics (86% say parties focus more on fighting than solving problems) creates an environment where bold proposals gain traction
The Usual Statehood Suspects
For decades, the debate over America’s next state has centered on two perennial contenders: Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Democrats have long championed D.C. statehood to secure two reliable Senate seats, while Puerto Rico has held multiple plebiscites in favor of joining the Union. Yet both remain bogged down by complex legal hurdles and partisan gridlock. As America’s two major parties battle it out in Congress, public trust in their ability to solve real problems has collapsed: 86% of Americans believe politicians prioritize infighting over solutions.
Enter former President Trump, who’s suggested adding Greenland or Gaza to the map—bold ideas that have sparked ridicule but also captivated a public exhausted by broken promises. While Denmark has rebuffed U.S. overtures for Greenland and Gaza remains a political impossibility, Cuba emerges as a more plausible target for U.S. expansionism.
Why Cuba?
Cuba’s economy lies in ruins, ravaged by decades of central planning, collapsed Soviet subsidies, and U.S. sanctions. Despite defiant rhetoric—“We will make more Revolution and more Socialism,” Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel recently proclaimed—the island is increasingly vulnerable to outside influence. For national security hawks, this is no idle concern. China has already made economic inroads into the Caribbean, raising fears that Beijing might establish a military foothold near U.S. shores.
Adding Cuba to the Union, its backers argue, would not only forestall Chinese encroachment but unlock massive economic potential. Think tourism, real estate, and energy—industries that could thrive under American legal and market systems. For Republicans, it could also signal the definitive collapse of socialism in the Western Hemisphere.
Fantasy or Forethought?
While critics dismiss Cuba statehood as pure fantasy, the broader appeal reflects Americans’ hunger for disruptive ideas. With only 10% expressing hope in the political system and 78% saying recent presidential candidates were poor options, audacious proposals are filling the void left by institutional failure.
Watch a discussion: Would Americans Support Cuba as the 51st State?
The same Pew study found that 72% support campaign finance reform, 79% back age limits for federal officials, and 74% want term limits for Supreme Court justices—clear indicators that incrementalism no longer inspires. Calls for statehood, once a fringe issue, are now a prism through which voters express dissatisfaction with the status quo.
Cuba may never fly the Stars and Stripes, but its sudden emergence in the 51st state debate reveals just how deeply Americans crave bold, imaginative thinking in a time of political decay. Whether the dream is liberty or leverage, the message is the same: the map isn’t the only thing Americans want redrawn.
