‘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’s Desperation
A Cuban man approached me on the street, murmuring as though revealing a hidden truth. “Let the Americans come, let Trump come, it’s time to get this over with,” he said in a barely audible voice. This sentiment is perilous in Cuba—especially amid the current US presidential campaign to strain the island’s already fragile state. I glanced around to ensure no one else had caught his words, and checked if my cameraman, documenting the ongoing transportation crisis, was nearby to capture his remarks. The man was a bicycle-taxi driver, and he continued, “We can’t take it anymore. People can’t feed their families.”
The Weight of History
Cuba has endured decades of turmoil since Fidel Castro’s revolutionaries seized Havana in 1959. From failed CIA invasions to nuclear standoffs, the nation has weathered crises that defined its modern era. Now, a new threat looms: Donald Trump’s aggressive policies. During an interview with CNN’s Dana Bash on Friday, Trump declared, “Cuba is going to fall soon.” While similar rhetoric has echoed from past US leaders, the speed and precision of Trump’s oil embargo have severely crippled the island’s struggling economy.
Trump’s Escalating Pressure
Trump has launched unprecedented efforts to destabilize Venezuela and Iran, and now Cuba appears to be the next target. Despite its resilience against earlier US sanctions and internal challenges, the country faces a new reality. Unlike the 1962 missile crisis, which blocked ships from reaching Cuba, the current embargo has a subtler but equally devastating impact. With oil supplies from Havana’s remaining allies dwindling, many of the newly constructed government hotels sit unused. Employees have been laid off, and tourists have disappeared, leaving the city eerily quiet.
Cuba’s Current Struggles
Blackouts, once brief, now stretch for days. When power flickers on at night, Cubans rise to cook and iron clothes, weary but determined. During a recent 36-hour outage, a group of men cooked a large pot over burning tree limbs on a Havana street. “We have returned to the Stone Age,” one remarked, his tone oddly cheerful. Without fuel, cars are scarce. Only government rentals for tourists can reliably access state-run gas stations, and those vehicles are often siphoned for the black market. A single tank of gas now costs over $300—more than the average Cuban earns in a year.
Government Resilience and Public Fatigue
Despite the hardship, the Cuban government insists, “Cuba is not alone.” Officials claim the US will never again control the island’s fate. Yet, many Cubans express exhaustion, yearning for change. When my cameraman reappeared, I asked the taxi driver if he wished to share his thoughts for the story. He quickly walked away, unwilling to voice his grievances above a whisper—at least for now.
