Castro Family Seeks Business Deals With Trump

Cuban officials and business figures linked to the Castro family are reportedly seeking to establish direct communication with the Trump administration to explore potential economic engagement, bypassing traditional diplomatic channels.

According to Martí Noticias, cited in an Italian-language report by Il Foglio, the grandson of former Cuban leader Raúl Castro has approached a wealthy Havana entrepreneur to serve as an intermediary in delivering a message directly to President Donald Trump.

The initiative reflects growing interest among certain segments of Cuba’s business community in pursuing capitalist-oriented reforms and improving relations with the United States, particularly amid ongoing economic difficulties on the island.

Sandro Castro, a grandson of Fidel Castro and a prominent social media figure in Cuba with over 150,000 Instagram followers, has publicly advocated for economic opening and suggested that a majority of Cubans support transitioning to a capitalist system.

In a late-night interview with CNN during one of Cuba’s frequent power outages, Sandro Castro stated that his online content aims to bring levity to a difficult situation, saying, “I am making videos about a tense, sad situation… At least I am trying to make people happy.”

He emphasized that he does not mock circumstances he personally experiences, adding, “I would never make fun of a situation that I suffer from as well.”

His public profile stands in contrast to the historically private nature of much of the Castro family, as he openly engages with audiences and occasionally critiques government officials through social media.

Separate reports indicate that Cuban actors have attempted to initiate back-channel discussions with the Trump administration, seeking to circumvent official diplomatic pathways involving figures such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

These efforts underscore a broader debate within Cuba about the country’s economic future, as official policies remain rooted in the socialist model established after the 1959 revolution, even as private enterprise has expanded in limited sectors since reforms began under Raúl Castro’s presidency.

The Cuban government has not publicly confirmed any direct outreach to the Trump administration, and no official response from Washington has been reported regarding such initiatives.