On Sunday, Donald Trump posted a burst of messages that pointed to Cuba as a new focus of his foreign pressure and possibly something more.
The flurry of activity came shortly after a U.S. military-led operation in Venezuela that resulted in the capture of Nicolás Maduro and a sudden collapse of Havana’s longtime oil lifeline.
Trump’s message was stark and direct. “THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA — ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE,” he wrote in one social media post.
That message wasn’t buried deep in a policy speech or buried in a news release. It was shared in the early morning, loud and clear on social platforms, with graphics and shares from other accounts all pointing to the same theme: Cuba is now in Trump’s sights.
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In several posts he amplified calls from supporters urging hard action against Cuba’s government, including one tellingly suggesting that Secretary of State Marco Rubio could become Cuba’s president. To that post, Trump said: “Sounds good to me!”
The seriousness of the situation goes beyond memes and jokes.
For decades Cuba has relied on Venezuelan oil and money to keep its economy barely afloat. That support has vanished since the U.S. military cut off shipments after Maduro’s arrest. Now Trump is using that leverage to push Havana toward negotiation or so he says.
Trump’s sharp rhetoric comes at a moment of rising tension in the Caribbean. His administration has issued ultimatums to Havana, urging it to strike a deal with Washington “before it is too late” or face deeper isolation.
Cuban officials have responded with equal force in words. President Miguel Díaz-Canel and Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez have repeatedly rejected what they call U.S. threats and interference in their affairs, insisting that Cuba will defend its sovereignty.
Cuba already faces widespread shortages of food, medicine, and basic services amid economic decline and frequent power blackouts. Trump’s move to cut off Venezuelan oil and cash could deepen that crisis.
The focus on Cuba also reflects a broader shift in U.S. foreign policy this year. Since the dramatic removal of Maduro from Venezuela, Trump and his advisers have signaled that they want wider influence in the region, including reducing the power of Cuban allies.
Top Republicans in Washington have echoed that message. Senator Lindsey Graham said recently that Cuba’s days as a friendly regime could be numbered and that Trump’s actions had put Havana on notice.
Featured image via Political Tribune Gallery
