A conversation shared on social media between a young man living in Miami and his mother in Cuba has reignited debate regarding the real impact of measures announced by U.S. President Donald Trump and the political use of the issue on the island.
In the exchange, the young man, identified as Yero Vento, recounts that his mother expressed fear via WhatsApp regarding supposed restrictions associated with Trump—such as “no country” being able to provide Cuba with petroleum or a halt to remittances—and he responds with a question that became central to the video: “Mom, when have you had all that Trump wants to take away?”
In the audio, the young man insists his mother “is worried” about the idea that Cuba would be left “without petroleum, without electricity, or transportation,” and questions who would truly be affected by a tightening of sanctions.
According to his argument, these restrictions would primarily impact “the elite” and those who benefit from supply circuits and businesses, not the general population, who—he says— “doesn’t care” given that they already live in hardship.
The dialogue as well reflects personal anxieties: the mother mentions that “if I die, don’t reach,” fearing she would be prevented from traveling, while the young man responds that “that’s nothing new” and suggests travel restrictions wouldn’t be exclusive to the Trump administration.
He notes that his mother’s fears are based on recent perceptions (“my mom found out now… after so many years”) regarding the difficulty of remittances and the cost of intermediaries.
Throughout the exchange, the young man describes a landscape of precarity in his neighborhood: many homes are “dark” for long periods, people cook with charcoal, wood, or other resources, “most” do not receive remittances or products from abroad, and the population “has nothing.”
he insists that any announcements from Washington would not substantially alter the daily life of the average Cuban, and accuses the Cuban government of always blaming the “blockade” and never taking responsibility.
The young man also suggests the government would use the people as a “shield” against sanctions, while referencing international organizations and the UN in a discourse of political confrontation (“they will take care of trying to lift the sanctions…”).
He reiterates that, from his perspective, deterioration encompasses multiple spheres—food, health, education, economy, internet—and concludes that “there is nothing decent in Cuba.”
The exchange has gone viral because it exposes, through a family conversation, the gap between the political narrative about the impact of external sanctions and the everyday experience of scarcity described by many Cubans, summarized in the question that fuels the controversy: “When did you have that?”
Back to the Special Period
On Thursday, Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed what millions of Cubans are already living daily: the country has returned to the hard years of the Special Period. During his extensive address, the leader acknowledged that since December 2025, no petroleum has arrived on the island from Venezuela and that the country is experiencing a deep energy crisis, with no immediate solutions or external allies.
Díaz-Canel explained that the situation “will not be resolved overnight” and that the Council of Ministers approved a set of directives to address the acute fuel shortage. The plan, inspired by the measures of the Special Period of the 1990s, revives the so-called “zero option” designed by Fidel Castro, now updated for the new context.
He said these strategies include prioritizing state consumption, reducing energy expenditure, and redistributing available fuel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sparked the recent debate about the impact of U.S. Measures on Cuba?
A conversation between a young man in Miami and his mother in Cuba, shared on social media, re-ignited the debate about the real scope of measures announced by President Trump and their political use on the island.
What concerns did the mother express in the conversation?
The mother expressed fear regarding supposed restrictions associated with Trump, such as Cuba being unable to receive petroleum from any country or a halt to remittances.
What did Miguel Díaz-Canel confirm regarding Cuba’s current situation?
Miguel Díaz-Canel confirmed that Cuba has returned to the hard years of the Special Period and that, since December 2025, no petroleum has arrived on the island from Venezuela.
As Cuba navigates this renewed period of economic hardship, what role will external factors and internal policies play in shaping the future for its citizens?