Trump Says Cuba 'Will Fall' as U.S. Pressures Havana
President Trump said Cuba "is going to fall pretty soon" and plans to send Marco Rubio as Cuba faces a 24-hour blackout and fuel shortages tied to lost Venezuelan oil.
BBC NewsUS President Donald Trump sets his sights on crisis-hit Cuba after Iran action
Daily BeastTrump Says Next New War Is Going to Be ‘Pretty Soon’
El PaisTrump: ‘Cuba is going to fall pretty soon, but we’re focused on Iran right now’
New York PostTrump: Cuba ‘is gonna fall pretty soon … they want to make a deal’
Overview
President Donald Trump said Cuba "is going to fall pretty soon" and said he would "put Marco Rubio over there" as talks with Havana reportedly continue.
The comments followed a 24-hour nationwide blackout in Cuba and fuel shortages after the island lost its main source of crude oil in the wake of U.S. military action in Venezuela.
The Cuban government has not confirmed reported talks with Washington, and Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro has been reported as a point of contact in Havana.
The crisis has included a 24-hour nationwide blackout, limited garbage collection, cooking with firewood, suspension of Air France flights, and a decree-law allowing public-private companies for the first time in 67 years.
Trump said the administration is focused on Iran for now but "we've got plenty of time," and he indicated Rubio could lead talks as Washington maintains pressure including threatened secondary tariffs while Havana authorizes limited private fuel imports.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story as a humanitarian and political crisis, using evocative language ("crippled", "crumbling", "acrid smoke") and vivid scenes (burning rubbish, sleeping without power). Editorial choices prioritize ordinary Cuban suffering and skeptical voices while juxtaposing Trump’s boasts with local hardship, suggesting policy harms civilians more than leaders.
FAQ
President Trump said Cuba 'is going to fall pretty soon' and announced he would assign Secretary of State Marco Rubio to negotiate a deal with Havana.
Cuba lost its main source of cheap Venezuelan oil due to U.S. actions including cutting off deliveries and imposing tariffs on countries providing oil to Cuba, leading to a nationwide 24-hour blackout and shortages.
The administration signed an Executive Order declaring a national emergency, establishing tariffs on countries selling oil to Cuba, and maintaining a tough embargo while reversing prior easing of restrictions.
Conditions include removal of all Castros from government, release of political prisoners, return of freedoms of association and speech, and credible steps toward multi-party elections, as per the 1996 Liberty Act.
The Cuban government has not confirmed the reported talks with Washington, despite U.S. claims of ongoing discussions.
