A bread vendor holds a cell phone up to his ear during irregular connectivity due to a blackout in Havana, Tuesday, March 17, 2026. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa)2026-03-17T20:14:19Z Cuba’s widening economic turmoil along with its growing political tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump have paralyzed much of the island and raised uncertainty about what’s next.The country was plunged into darkness this week by a blackout — the third big failure of its power grid since December — opening the door for Trump to suggest that he might have the “honor of taking Cuba.”“I mean, whether I free it, take it. I think I could do anything I want with it,” Trump said on Monday. Cuba is struggling under the weight of an U.S. energy blockade that has halted oil shipments to the island over the past three months.Many of the nation’s 11 million residents struggle to keep food from spoiling. Hospitals have canceled surgeries. The leading university has reduced classes due to the power outages and transportation shutdowns.Here’s what to know about Cuba’s persistent blackouts and deepening crisis. US leaders say power outages signal need for changeThe U.S. State Department said Tuesday that the ongoing blackouts are a symptom of the Cuban government’s failure to provide the most basic needs for its people.When asked about Cuba at an unrelated White House event on Tuesday, Trump turned to his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, who is the son of Cuban immigrants.Rubio said Cuba’s current political system and government can’t fix the country’s problems. “So they have to change dramatically,” Rubio said. Cuba’s economic troubles are part of pressure campaignThe Trump administration is demanding that Cuba release political prisoners and move toward political and economic liberalization in return for a lifting of sanctions.Trump has for months suggested Cuba’s government is on the verge of collapse and said after the U.S. ousted former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro that the increased economi