Cuba Descends Into Darkness as Electrical Grid Fails, Trump Says He Can Take the Island If He Wants [WATCH]

Cuba experienced a complete nationwide blackout on Monday, marking the first time the entire country has gone dark at once after years of ongoing power disruptions.

According to reports, the country’s electrical grid collapsed entirely, leaving millions without electricity.

“Cuba’s electrical grid has suffered a complete and total collapse. This according to the country’s power operator,” CNN reported on Monday afternoon.

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“It’s the first nationwide blackout since the U.S. effective shut off the flow of oil to Cuba.”

The blackout has intensified an already fragile situation across the island. Hospitals, which have already been operating under strained conditions, have been forced to rely on backup generators.

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Food supplies are also at risk, as the lack of refrigeration threatens to spoil what limited provisions remain available to residents.

Power outages have been a persistent issue in Cuba for years, but conditions worsened in recent weeks.

Approximately two weeks before the nationwide blackout, a large portion of the country lost electricity. While some areas saw partial restoration, many regions continued to experience prolonged outages lasting most of the day.

The worsening conditions have led to sustained protests across the country. Demonstrations have stretched over multiple days, with Sunday marking the tenth consecutive night of unrest.

Protesters have blocked streets and, in some instances, attempted to set fire to a Communist Party headquarters.

Rep. María Elvira Salazar of Florida addressed the situation in a statement posted on X, saying, “This is the true legacy of the Castros: darkness, scarcity, and a nation pushed to the brink. The Cuban people deserve freedom, democracy, and a country that works for them, not a failed dictatorship clinging to power.”

This is the true legacy of the Castros: darkness, scarcity, and a nation pushed to the brink.

The Cuban people deserve freedom, democracy, and a country that works for them, not a failed dictatorship clinging to power. 🇨🇺 https://t.co/UhFZmThF45

— María Elvira Salazar 🇺🇸 (@MaElviraSalazar) March 16, 2026

Efforts to restore power are underway, but officials have not provided a clear timeline for when electricity will be fully restored. Based on previous outages, recovery could take several days or longer.

President Donald Trump addressed the situation while traveling from Palm Beach to Washington, D.C., on Sunday evening.

He indicated that the United States is engaged in discussions involving Cuba and suggested that developments could occur soon.

“Well, I am holding Cuba. Cuba’s a failed nation. Cuba also wants to make a deal, and I think we will pretty soon either make a deal or do whatever we have to do. We have a lot of great people that happened to vote for Trump, not that that matters, but we have a lot of great people from Cuba that were violently and viciously thrown out of the country and worse. Their families were killed. And so we’re talking to Cuba, but we’re gonna do Iran before Cuba.”

He continued, “You know, people have been waiting fifty years to hear this story with Cuba. When I left Palm Beach today, there were thousands of people on the road, I’m sure you saw them, and they were from Cuba and from Venezuela, all friendly, waving the flag and waving the American flag. They’ve been waiting fifty years for what’s happening with Cuba, so I think something will happen with Cuba pretty quickly.”

Trump also spoke again on the situation from the Oval Office on Monday, stating, “Whether I free it, take it — I can do anything I want with it.”

Meanwhile, Cuban government officials have attributed the crisis to external pressures, including U.S. policy.

Cuban leader Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged on Friday that the government is engaged in negotiations with the United States, describing the discussions as ongoing.

Reports have also circulated suggesting that Cuban authorities are encouraging citizens living abroad to return and invest in the country’s economy.

However, the blackout and continued instability raise questions about the feasibility of such efforts.

The situation remains fluid as restoration efforts continue and protests persist across the island.

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