Erika Barris

The second big shock came when President Trump took office for the first time in 2017.

Trump was not on board with the warming relations between the U.S.

and Cuba.

He cited the country's human rights violations and accused it of spreading violence and instability, accused Obama of propping up a repressive regime.

So Trump brought back many of the economic sanctions Obama had relaxed and heavily restricted travel again.

Both frenemies and compadres were giving Cuba the cold shoulder.

Ricardo said some Cubans made big money, but he says even before this latest venture into capitalism, the loosening of government controls had given rise to a culture of have and have-nots.

There'd be a blackout across much of the country, but in some richer neighborhoods in Havana, people would still be partying.

They'd have lights on, eating lobsters.

And Cubans did not accept it.

Ricardo, too, was frustrated.

In 2021, he was preparing to go to the U.S.

for a fellowship.

And looking around, he decided that this time when he left, he wasn't coming back.

And now when Ricardo goes back to visit, he says it seems Cuba's rich are getting richer.

You see Teslas and Escalades on the streets.

But he says Cuba's poor are also getting poorer.

Ricardo says that's the Cuba he saw the last time he was there in 2025.

The Trump administration told Venezuela no more oil for Cuba.

And they told other countries that would have sold oil to Cuba, like Mexico, that if they do, they will get tariffed.