Democratic Rep. Slams Trump Over Tariffs On Countries Sending Oil To Cuba: 'Designed To Cause a Humanitarian Collapse'

Democratic Rep. Chuy Garcia slammed President Donald Trump over his executive order imposing tariffs on countries selling or sending oil to Cuba, saying the measure seeks to "cause a humanitarian crisis" and deepen "our collective punishment of the Cuban people."

In a social media publication, Garcia said that "for 65 years, the U.S. has maintained an embargo against Cuba, deliberately starving civilians in the hope that their desperation triggers an uprising."

He went on to claim that the tariffs could force "more migration" and argued against them. "Cuba poses no threat to the United States, but that's not the point. Trump is manufacturing an excuse for cruelty and regime change," he concluded.

For 65 years, the U.S. has maintained an embargo against Cuba, deliberately starving civilians in the hope that their desperation triggers an uprising.Trump’s latest economic assault against the island is designed to cause a humanitarian collapse, deepening our collective… https://t.co/VjHlHkdKOQ

— Congressman Chuy García (@RepChuyGarcia) January 31, 2026

Trump has rejected that notion, also espoused by Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, whose government is one of the last energetic lifelines Havana has.

Speaking to press aboard the Air Force One, Trump said the situation "doesn't have to be a humanitarian crisis."

"I think they'll probably come to us and want to make a deal. So Cuba will be free again. They'll come to us and make a deal. Cuba really has a problem. I know a lot of people from Cuba. We have a lot of people in the U.S. right now who would like to go back to Cuba. We'd like to work that out," Trump added.

Trump's order was largely seen as aimed at Mexico. Sheinbaum said this week that her administration intends to continue sending oil to the country on humanitarian grounds, but the tariffs could deter her from moving forward with the policy.

The Havana regime also slammed the move, calling it a "brutal act of aggression." In a social media publication, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez said Havana "condemns in the strongest terms the U.S.'s new escalation."

"Now it is seeking to impose a total blockade to our country's fuel supplies," Rodriguez added. "The U.S. is also resorting to blackmail and coercion to try to get other countries to join its universally condemned blockade of Cuba and, should they refuse, are threatened with arbitrary and abusive tariffs that violate all free trade rules," he added.

A report from the Financial Times this week claimed that the country has less than a month worth of oil at current levels of demand and domestic production.

Citing data company Kpler, the outlet noted that the country has oil to last 15 to 20 days unless deliveries resume. "They have a major crisis on their hands" Jorge Piñon, an oil expert at the University of Texas told the outlet.

The country has only received less than 85,000 barrels this year, according to the FT. All came from a shipment on January 9, Kpler detailed. The figure adds to an estimated 460,000 barrels held in inventories at the beginning of the year.

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