Trump tells Cuba to ‘make a deal, before it is too late’
US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Cuba on January 10-11, 2026, via his Truth Social platform, urging the island nation to “make a deal” with the United States before facing severe consequences. He declared that no more oil or money would flow to Cuba from Venezuela—”ZERO!”—following a recent US military operation that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and resulted in the deaths of numerous Cuban personnel providing security there.
Trump highlighted Cuba’s long reliance on Venezuelan oil and funds in exchange for providing security services to Maduro’s regime, stating that this arrangement ends now. He reposted a suggestion that Secretary of State Marco Rubio could become Cuba’s president, commenting “Sounds good to me!” amid escalating US pressure. The post comes as Cuba grapples with economic crises, blackouts, and isolation after losing Venezuelan support.
This rhetoric follows the US seizure of Maduro in Caracas, which killed 32 Cubans according to Havana, shifting regional dynamics and prompting Trump to assert US protection for Venezuela. Trump did not specify the deal’s terms but implied potential sanctions or intervention if Cuba refuses. Cuban officials face heightened diplomatic tensions, with US intelligence assessing the regime’s vulnerability.
