A video circulated by the Let Cuba Breathe project and later shared by Cubadebate on X and Facebook has sparked a flood of reactions. The footage depicts a father and son in Havana, rising before dawn to cook with wood amidst persistent power outages.
The Facebook post highlights the scene, emphasizing this is not a remote village or a bygone era, but present-day Cuba. The caption blames the "suffocation by Trump" for the situation.
In the video, the father attributes the lack of electricity to fuel shortages linked to the "blockade." He explains that without immediate solutions, they resort to cooking with wood in the early hours.
This scenario, common in many parts of the country due to ongoing electricity cuts and domestic gas shortages, ignited criticism online. Numerous comments accused the post of exploiting a long-standing crisis to shift blame onto the current U.S. administration, deflecting from Cuba's internal issues.
Months earlier, even state media acknowledged this reality. In February 2025, the newspaper Girón published a photo report titled "Improvised Fires and Cold Meals," showcasing families forced to light fires due to electricity and gas shortages. The report detailed how many Cubans either cooked during sporadic power availability or turned to coal and primitive methods for a hot meal.
On January 29, 2026, the U.S. President signed an executive order threatening tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, citing a national emergency. Many online users pointed to this timeline, arguing the energy crisis predates these actions.
On X, a user commented: "Hypocrites, this is Cuba since 2020, and it's your fault, you mafia." Another declared: "Stop being cynical, Cuba has been like this for years, not because of Trump, but due to the dictatorship, oppressing us daily." Other sentiments included: "Blame the Castros, you lying bastards" and "The only 'blockade' is from the PCC, you bastards."
Some users mocked the timing of the problem's visibility: "We've been like this for years, but Cubadebate didn't publish it before. Now they have an excuse." Similarly, another remarked: "Was Cuba a paradise before 2025? Stop the tears; life has been a total disaster for years."
On Facebook, the outrage mirrored this sentiment. "No leader cooks with wood," one user wrote. Another asked, "Which Cuban leader practices what they preach and cooks with wood? Enough lies." Questions arose like, "Does Canel cook with wood?"
Many pointed out that cooking with coal or wood isn't new: "Cuba has been cooking with wood for months; next they'll blame the Granma yacht's delay on Trump"; "Half of Cuba was cooking with wood before Trump"; and "Way before Trump, this was happening. Stop begging and fix the country, you opportunists."
Others highlighted domestic restrictions: "Cuban hardships aren't just from the embargo, but from internal restrictions and total government control. Lift these restrictions to allow alternatives like solar energy. At the airport, it's either seized or taxed heavily, making it unaffordable for those in need. It's not about policies; it's about restrictions on both sides of the conflict."
References to inequality between leaders and citizens were also made: "Why is the suffocation only for the people? I haven't seen a leader with worn shoes or hungry faces" or "The blockade selectively affects only those not in the government or their families. Surrender power for equality."
The frustration from years of economic and energy crises was evident in comments like: "This has been happening for a long time; stop lying"; "Shameless"; "Ridiculous. In the 21st century, that's why we detest you"; "You need to let Cuba breathe because you're suffocating it, you cynics."
Even health impacts from smoke were mentioned: "I've caught countless respiratory diseases from the smoke, and my neighbor burns polystyrene, nylon, everything."
The video intended to highlight Havana's energy crisis but instead amplified the discontent of many Cubans, who assert this is not a recent issue and reject blaming the Trump administration for the country's collapse and misery.
Understanding Cuba's Ongoing Energy Crisis
What triggered the outrage over the Cubadebate video?
The video showed Cubans cooking with wood due to power outages, which many felt was an attempt to blame the U.S. administration rather than addressing Cuba's internal problems.
Is cooking with wood a new practice in Cuba?
No, cooking with wood or coal has been a common practice in Cuba for months due to ongoing electricity and gas shortages.
How do Cubans view the current energy crisis?
Many Cubans blame the crisis on internal government restrictions and mismanagement, rather than external factors like U.S. policies.