In a strong message on his Truth Social platform, Trump said, “There will be no more oil or money going to Cuba - Zero!” He added that Cuba depended for years on Venezuelan oil and cash in return for providing “Security Services” to Venezuelan leaders.

Trump claimed US Special Forces captured Maduro and his wife in a rapid operation earlier this month. He said many of Maduro’s security personnel, including Cubans, were killed, and insisted Venezuela no longer needed Cuban protection.

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The US president gave few details about what kind of deal he wanted from Cuba. Later, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said his focus was on helping people who were forced out of Cuba or left under pressure, especially those now living in the United States.

“…THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA - ZERO! I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. Thank you for your attention to this matter.”- President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/bHEIysJ7q1

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) January 11, 2026

A week earlier, Trump said “Cuba is ready to fall,” pointing to the island’s deepening economic crisis and its heavy dependence on subsidized Venezuelan oil. He suggested Havana would struggle to survive without that support.

Trump also shared a lighthearted post suggesting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio could one day become president of Cuba, adding, “Sounds good to me!” The remark further fueled reactions in Havana.

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Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel responded sharply, saying Cuba was a free and sovereign nation. He wrote that “no one tells us what to do” and said Cubans were ready to defend their homeland at any cost.

He has also recently warned other countries, including Colombia, Mexico, Iran, and Greenland, drawing both praise and criticism at home.

Some US lawmakers welcomed Trump’s aggressive tone. Florida Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart said Cuba’s system would not survive Trump’s second term and claimed the island would finally see freedom after years of hardship.