Trump backs down on Cuba blockade after months of tough talk: report [View all]

By Daniel Hampton
Published March 30, 2026 9:30 PM ET

President Donald Trump has quietly retreated from his bombastic vow to choke off Cuba's oil supply, allowing a Russian tanker to deliver crude to the island and signaling the administration may let other shipments through, too.

The about-face, reported by The New York Times on Monday, comes after months of Trump threatening to take over Cuba entirely and declaring in January: "THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA — ZERO!"

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Monday the administration would now evaluate oil shipments to Cuba on a "case-by-case basis" — a far cry from Trump's all-caps ultimatum.

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-cuba-2676640663/