Brief
Trump’s pressure campaign deepens Cuba’s fuel crisis, photographer documents hardships
Lisette Poole González’s road trip shows how U.S. sanctions have left Cubans coping with frequent blackouts and empty gas stations.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Photographer Lisette Poole González spent two weeks traveling from Havana to Baracoa documenting Cuba’s worsening fuel shortage and power outages, which she says are a result of the United States’ “maximum pressure campaign” against the island.
What happened
González drove across Cuba, visiting remote provinces where gasoline is scarce and electricity is limited to a few hours a day. She recorded empty beaches, fishermen unable to reach the sea, and public transport largely halted. In Baracoa, residents gathered outdoors to make use of natural light during near‑constant blackouts.
What the reports add
The Los Angeles Times notes that the United States has blocked oil imports, filed criminal charges against a former Cuban leader and imposed new sanctions aimed at toppling the Communist government. President Trump told the United Nations General Assembly that Cuba is “failing like never before” and will “fall.” The article also mentions that the story was supported by the Pulitzer Center.
What was said
“It’s failing like never before,” President Trump said of Cuba in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly last week, according to the Los Angeles Times.
González captured scenes such as a man showering in a rainstorm, horses pulling carriages, and teenagers pushing a broken carousel, illustrating daily life amid the crisis.
How it came about
U.S. sanctions intensified after January 2026, cutting off fuel and parts needed for Cuba’s power grid, which has already suffered multiple blackouts, as reported in Felo’s earlier piece on the September 19 grid collapse.
Key facts
- The United States has blocked oil imports to Cuba as part of a “maximum pressure campaign.” (latimes.com)
- President Trump said Cuba is “failing like never before” at the UN General Assembly. (latimes.com)
- Photographer Lisette Poole González traveled from Havana to Baracoa over two weeks documenting fuel shortages and power outages. (latimes.com)
- Public transportation in Cuba has largely stopped and many areas receive only a few hours of electricity per day. (latimes.com)
Sources
- [1] latimes.com — originally reported as “Is Cuba on the brink of collapse? A photographer took a road trip to find out”
