The Trump administration released a State Department report accusing Cuba of cultivating a far-reaching network of left-wing activism inside the United States, directly linking Havana to prominent progressive movements including the Democratic Socialists of America.
Titled "Cuba: The Capital of 21st Century Communism," the document frames the Caribbean nation as a persistent ideological threat. It alleges that Cuba constructed a "sprawling revolutionary network that shaped a disproportionate share of America's most famous and influential extremist movements" and maintains connections to "leftist nonprofits, anti-ICE collectives, socialist groups, and Marxist militant organizations" across the country.
What the report says about progressive groups
The report repeatedly targets the Democratic Socialists of America, citing the election of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the group's advocacy for normalizing U.S.-Cuba relations as evidence of Cuban influence.
It also scrutinizes the Black Lives Matter movement, noting that leaders "firmly sided with the Cuban government over the protestors in the streets" during Cuba's 2021 anti-government demonstrations. While Black Lives Matter did not explicitly endorse the Cuban government, the organization issued a statement calling for the U.S. to lift its embargo on Cuba—a stance that drew criticism for failing to hold the Cuban government responsible for the country's economic crisis.
The report makes sweeping claims about Cuba's ideological reach, alleging that "many of the most significant upheavals in recent American political history—from the George Floyd riots to the rise of Antifa to the explosion of pro-terrorist activism on American college campuses—can be linked, in some way, shape, or form to Cuban influence."
Experts challenge the report's historical claims
Michael Bustamante, a professor of Cuban and Cuban American studies at the University of Miami and author of "Cuban Memory Wars: Retrospective Politics in Revolution and Exile," said the report contains "highly questionable assertions that perversely replicate how Cuban govt portrays internal dissent as nothing but a foreign plot." He described it as "selective, infuriating history."
The report surfaces as the Trump administration has sharpened its focus on removing Cuba's communist government, moving away from diplomatic engagement toward maximum pressure.
Economic pressure and military threats
President Donald Trump signaled aggressive intentions toward the island. In a Fox News interview, Trump warned that "a lot of things are going to happen in Cuba over the next several months." In March, he declared "Cuba is next" during a speech in Miami, referencing the success of the U.S. military operation in Venezuela, and indicated a preference for a "friendly takeover" of the island nation.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio has taken a particularly firm stance, stating that the chances of reaching a peaceful deal with Cuba are "not high," underscoring the administration's willingness to maintain maximum pressure rather than pursue diplomacy.
The U.S. has steadily tightened its economic grip on Cuba. After capturing Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, the administration cut off oil shipments from Venezuela, which had been Cuba's primary supplier.
Washington has also threatened sanctions against any country that supplies oil to the island. A lack of both oil and investment in Cuba's energy infrastructure has caused the country's power grid to collapse repeatedly in recent months.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe visited Cuba as the country grapples with these shortages.
Implications for Cuban Americans and activist groups
By tying domestic progressive movements to a foreign adversary, the report could provide legal and political justification for further action against both Cuba and activist groups operating within the United States.
For Cuban Americans and diaspora communities, the report reignites long-running debates over how Washington should engage with Havana and whether domestic dissent is being unfairly characterized as foreign interference.