‘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, his voice hushed as though revealing a confidential matter. “Let the Americans come, let Trump come, it’s time to get this over with,” he murmured. This remark carries risk in Havana — particularly now that a US leader is targeting the island with intensity unseen since the Cold War era. I glanced around, ensuring no one overheard, and checked if my cameraman, documenting the ongoing transportation emergency, was close enough to capture his words. The man, a bicycle-taxi operator, added, “We can’t take it anymore. People can’t feed their families.”
The Weight of Trump’s Policies
Over half a century since Fidel Castro’s revolution transformed Havana, the nation has endured cycles of economic turmoil: CIA attempts to overthrow the regime, nuclear confrontations, and mass departures. Now, Donald Trump is intensifying the pressure. During a recent CNN interview, Trump declared, “Cuba is going to fall soon,” a claim that echoes past presidential rhetoric but gains urgency from the swift and precise manner in which his oil embargo is crippling the island’s struggling economy.
Cuba’s Economic Struggles
With the US attacks on Venezuela and pressure on Mexico’s government already underway, Cuba’s allies are withdrawing support. New government-funded hotels stand vacant, their doors closed to visitors. Staff have been dismissed, and the tourism industry, once a lifeline, is in decline. The scarcity of jet fuel has made travel nearly impossible, leaving the island eerily quiet. “We have returned to the Stone Age,” one Cuban remarked with a wry smile, describing the daily struggle to manage with limited resources.
Blackouts, once temporary, now stretch for days. When power flickers on at night, Cubans rise to prepare meals and press clothes, their routines disrupted by the outage. During a recent 36-hour darkness, men gathered on a Havana street, cooking over burning tree limbs in a makeshift effort to survive. Fuel shortages have reduced traffic, with government rentals for tourists being the sole vehicles capable of refueling at state stations. A single tank sells for over $300 on the black market, exceeding the annual income of many residents.
The Government’s Resolve
Despite the crisis, Cuban officials insist the US will not dictate terms again. “Cuba is not alone,” the government proclaims, though the island appears increasingly isolated. The phrase “The homeland or death. We will be victorious!” still echoes in speeches, a testament to resilience. Yet, among the populace, exhaustion is palpable. Some yearn for change, regardless of its source. When my cameraman reappeared, I asked the taxi driver if he wished to share his thoughts for the story. He hesitated, walking away before offering his complaints — still whispered, for now.
