"We want to help Cuba": Trump responds when asked if he plans a military operation against the island

U.S. President Donald Trump has ruled out the possibility of a military operation against Cuba, stating that he only wants to "open" the island to its people.

The leader made these remarks as he left the White House on Saturday, heading to Knoxville, Tennessee. 

I would say that Cuba and we will reach an agreement. I don't think we need to resort to the military option," the president told the press. "We want to help Cuba. We want to open Cuba to our people," he added.

 On January 29, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order declaring a "national emergency" in response to the alleged "unusual and extraordinary threat" that, according to the White House, Cuba poses to the security of the United States and the region. The text accuses the Cuban government of aligning itself with "numerous hostile countries," harboring "transnational terrorist groups," and allowing the deployment of "sophisticated military and intelligence capabilities" from Russia and China on the island.