Trump Floats Taking Cuba as Blackout Deepens Crisis

US President Donald Trump has suggested the United States could take control of Cuba, as the island faces a nationwide blackout triggered by the collapse of its already fragile power grid.

Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump framed the moment as an opportunity, pointing to Cuba’s weakened state amid an ongoing US-led oil blockade.

“You know, all my life I’ve been hearing about the United States and Cuba. When will the United States do it?” he said.

“I do believe I’ll be… having the honour of taking Cuba.”

“Whether I free it, take it – think I could do anything I want with it. You want to know the truth. They’re a very weakened nation right now.”

There has been no immediate response from the Cuban government.

The remarks come as the country grapples with a full-scale power outage affecting all 10 million residents. Cuba’s state electricity provider, Union Nacional Electrica, said a “complete shutdown of the national grid” had occurred, leaving the entire country without power.

Authorities say they are working to restore service, but progress has been slow and uneven. State media reported that electricity had returned to about 5 percent of Havana’s population — roughly 42,000 customers — along with several hospitals. Officials warned that even those limited restorations remain unstable and could fail again.

It is the third major blackout in four months, underscoring the deterioration of Cuba’s ageing energy infrastructure. While technical issues have played a role, the government has also pointed to external pressure — particularly US measures targeting the island’s oil supply.

Since January, Cuba has effectively been cut off from most fuel imports after Washington threatened tariffs on countries supplying oil to the island. No oil shipments have been recorded since January 9, with only two small vessels delivering limited supplies earlier this year.

The result has been a deepening energy crisis layered on top of long-standing economic strain. Shortages of fuel, food and medicine have intensified, pushing parts of the country toward what observers describe as a humanitarian emergency.

The pressure has also begun to spill into public unrest. Over the weekend, protesters set fire to a Communist Party office — a rare and symbolic act in a country where demonstrations are tightly controlled.

Trump’s comments reflect a broader stance within his administration, which has openly spoken about pursuing regime change in Cuba. But his language — suggesting direct US control over the island — adds a sharper edge to that position.

At the same time, rights groups have warned that escalating economic pressure risks worsening living conditions for ordinary Cubans, potentially fuelling instability without offering a clear path forward.