‘We can’t take it anymore’: How Trump is pushing Cuba to the brink

‘We can’t take it anymore’: How Trump is pushing Cuba to the brink

A Cuban man approached me on the street, murmuring as though revealing a closely guarded secret. “Let the Americans come, let Trump come, it’s time to get this over with,” he said in a hushed tone. This sentiment is perilous in Cuba — particularly during a period when a U.S. leader is intensifying pressure on the island in a manner reminiscent of Cold War tensions. I glanced around to ensure no one was eavesdropping, and checked if my cameraman, documenting the ongoing transportation crisis, was close enough to capture the driver’s words. He was a bicycle-taxi operator, and his frustration echoed a broader discontent.

Sixty years after Fidel Castro led a group of revolutionary figures into Havana, Cuba has endured relentless challenges: failed CIA attempts, nuclear standoffs, and mass departures. Now, Donald Trump’s policies threaten to add a new layer of hardship. On Friday, he told CNN’s Dana Bash that “Cuba is going to fall soon,” a claim that feels familiar yet sharper in its execution. The oil embargo he imposed has dismantled the island’s fragile economy with surgical precision, surpassing previous U.S. interventions in severity.

Trump has already targeted Venezuela and Iran in his second term, launching aggressive campaigns to topple their leaders. Yet Cuba, which has withstood decades of sanctions and internal missteps, appears to be his next focus. Unlike the 1962 missile crisis, which blocked ships from reaching Havana, the current measures disrupt access to essential resources. After recent pressure on Venezuela and Mexico, the flow of oil from Cuba’s remaining allies has been halted. Many of the government’s newly constructed hotels, funded by public resources, now stand idle or shuttered, their staff sent home without pay.

Tourism, once a vital sector, has all but disappeared. Without jet fuel, flights to the island are scarce, leaving Cubans to rely on outdated methods for survival. During a recent 36-hour power outage, residents cooked over burning tree limbs on Havana’s main avenues, a sight that left one man describing the situation as “returning to the Stone Age” with a tone of weary optimism. Fuel shortages have turned government-issued T-Plate vehicles into coveted assets, with Cubans siphoning gas to sell on the black market. A single tank of fuel now costs over $300 — more than the average annual income.

Despite the strain, Cuban officials insist the U.S. will not dictate terms to their nation again. “The homeland or death. We will be victorious!” remains a rallying cry, even as citizens grow weary. Some Cubans express exhaustion, hoping for change — regardless of its source. When my cameraman reappeared, I asked the taxi driver if he wished to share his thoughts for the piece. He quickly moved away, reluctant to voice his concerns openly, at least for now.