Donald Trump turned Truth Social into a megaphone for confronting Cuba, demanding a U.S. deal or face total cutoff from Venezuelan support. ‘Venezuela lifeline CUTTING OFF. Deal with America NOW, before too late. ZERO everything—no oil, no funds!’ he warned, advising haste.
At core, this strikes Cuba’s survival artery. Sanctions have long battered the island, forcing reliance on ally Venezuela’s discounted fuel and aid. U.S. control over Venezuelan shipments flips the script, empowering Trump’s blockade.
Enter Marco Rubio: Trump boosted a post envisioning the Secretary of State as Cuba’s future leader, courtesy of user Cliff Smith. ‘Marco Rubio President of Cuba’ with emojis drew Trump’s ‘I like that!’ nod, leveraging Rubio’s exile-family backstory.
The move blends bravado with strategy, pushing for Cuban capitulation or overhaul. Smith’s modest following belies the post’s reach in Trump’s echo chamber.
Cuba stares down intensified isolation as energy woes mount. This gambit tests the regime’s resilience against U.S. might. Could it spark secret diplomacy, or entrench hostilities? Trump’s rhetoric revives Cold War echoes, with high stakes for regional stability.