ABC, CBS Blame America, Not Communism, For 'Plunging' Cuba 'Into Darkness'

Alex Christy
May 16th, 2026 12:07 PM

Text to Speech

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ABC’s recent history of blaming the United States, and especially the Trump administration, and not communism for Cuba’s ongoing economic disaster continued on Saturday’s Good Morning America as reporter Alex Presha and guest co-host Rachel Scott blamed American sanctions instead. Unfortunately, this time, they were also joined by CBS Saturday Morning and White House reporter Olivia Rinaldi, who claimed the U.S. was “plunging the country into darkness.”

During his report on recent developments between the U.S. and Cuba, Presha declared, “[CIA Director John] Ratcliffe’s visit is happening in the midst of an economic crisis. The U.S. oil blockade and sanctions have caused a crippling energy shortage. Extensive blackouts across the country, sparking protests. Cubans banging pots and shouting, ‘Turn on the lights!’ The frustrations growing over the country's energy grid, now on the verge of collapse.”

 

 

Presha continued, “Many Cubans are without power up to 22 hours a day, getting by in the dark with car headlights and flashlights. This week, Cuba’s energy minister declaring the country has no fuel and no diesel. President Trump has called Cuba a declining country in need of help. The U.S. State Department has made a public offer of $100 million in humanitarian aid, something Cuban officials are now mulling over. U.S. officials telling ABC News there are disagreements about how that money would be distributed.”

Back live, Presha threw in another development, “Now, the U.S. has offered that humanitarian aid multiple times this month. Meanwhile, sources say the U.S. could announce an indictment of former Cuban president Raul Castro as soon as next week, Rachel.”

As Presha left, Scott turned to fellow co-host Whit Johnson, “We just saw there in that piece, you were just in Cuba last week speaking to the foreign minister. I mean, what were your takeaways from being on the ground there?

Johnson repeated Presha’s reporting of economic calamity before recalling, “He insisted that internal affairs are off the table in these discussions with the U.S. He said that there's no progress in those discussions, but it seems like the administration is determined to force change whether the Cuban government likes it or not.”

Scott then echoed Presha, “Yeah, those U.S. sanctions crippling that economy,” while Johnson also chimed in with “yeah.”

Meanwhile, Rinaldi at least mentioned why the DOJ is looking at indicting Raul Castro, “CIA Director John Ratcliffe's trip to Cuba came as sources tell CBS News the Trump administration is taking steps to indict Raul Castro, the 94- year-old former president of Cuba and brother of Fidel Castro, in connection with the downing of humanitarian aid planes 30 years ago.”

 

 

However, she also avoided any mention of communism, “Cuba is in the midst of an energy crisis, fueled by the U.S. blockade there, plunging the country into darkness.”

The truth is Cuba’s energy crisis predates Trump’s decision to seize Cuba-bound Venezuelan oil because communism fails as surely as the sun rises in the east.

Here are transcripts for the May 16 shows:

ABC Good Morning America

5/16/2026

8:15 AM ET

ALEX PRESHA: Ratcliffe’s visit is happening in the midst of an economic crisis. The U.S. oil blockade and sanctions have caused a crippling energy shortage. Extensive blackouts across the country, sparking protests. Cubans banging pots and shouting, “Turn on the lights!” The frustrations growing over the country's energy grid, now on the verge of collapse.

Many Cubans are without power up to 22 hours a day, getting by in the dark with car headlights and flashlights. This week, Cuba’s energy minister declaring the country has no fuel and no diesel. President Trump has called Cuba a declining country in need of help. The U.S. State Department has made a public offer of $100 million in humanitarian aid, something Cuban officials are now mulling over. U.S. officials telling ABC News there are disagreements about how that money would be distributed.

Now, the U.S. has offered that humanitarian aid multiple times this month. Meanwhile, sources say the U.S. could announce an indictment of former Cuban president Raul Castro as soon as next week, Rachel.

RACHEL SCOTT: Yeah, it could come. Alright, Alex, thank you. And Whit, we just saw there in that piece, you were just in Cuba last week speaking to the foreign minister. I mean, what were your takeaways from being on the ground there?

WHIT JOHNSON: I mean, the big takeaway for me is the looming question: how much longer can this really last? I mean, when I was there last week, it was desperation. I mean, people we saw people actually sifting through the trash to try to find food. Twenty hour rolling blackouts. The gas stations were all closed. People were getting their gas on the black market.

And now it's even worse a week later, and we're starting to see people pour out into the streets. They are demanding a change of some kind. When I spoke with the foreign minister, he insisted that internal affairs are off the table in these discussions with the U.S. He said that there's no progress in those discussions, but it seems like the administration is determined to force change.

SCOTT: Yeah.

JOHNSON: Whether the Cuban government likes it or not.

SCOTT: Yeah, those U.S. sanctions crippling that economy.

JOHNSON: Yeah.

SCOTT: Okay, Whit, we appreciate your reporting on that. Great interview.

***

CBS Saturday Morning

5/16/2026

8:14 AM ET

OLIVIA RINALDI: There was a different island, this one 90 miles off the coast of Florida that U.S. officials visited this week. CIA Director John Ratcliffe's trip to Cuba came as sources tell CBS News the Trump administration is taking steps to indict Raul Castro, the 94- year-old former president of Cuba and brother of Fidel Castro, in connection with the downing of humanitarian aid planes 30 years ago. Cuba is in the midst of an energy crisis, fueled by the U.S. blockade there, plunging the country into darkness.

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