U.S. President Donald J. Trump declared that Cuba is “very close to failing” following the U.S. military capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, according to reports from January 2026.
Speaking during a visit to Urbandale, Iowa, Trump stated: “Cuba will be failing pretty soon. Cuba is really a nation that’s very close to failing.”
The remarks follow a significant disruption in Cuba’s oil supply chain after the U.S. administration blocked Venezuela’s shipments to Havana. Venezuela had been providing approximately one-third of Cuba’s oil needs, while Mexico—accounting for 44 percent—has also suspended deliveries under U.S. pressure.
This interruption has intensified fuel shortages and power outages across the island nation. Reports indicate that internal pressures are mounting within Cuba’s government, with some figures reportedly seeking opportunities to challenge the communist regime.
Cuban-American Secretary of State Marco Rubio has previously labeled Cuba’s leadership a “huge problem,” while Trump urged Havana to negotiate a resolution before its situation deteriorates further.
