President Donald Trump has grown increasingly frustrated that months of U.S. pressure have not shaken the Cuban government from power, and he has been pressing his advisers on why the effort has not worked. The concern inside the administration has sharpened as the government in Havana remains in place despite sustained pressure from Washington.
The information comes from two U.S. officials, a former U.S. official and three people familiar with the discussions. Their account points to a White House that sees Cuba as a test of resolve and influence, but has not seen the outcome it wanted.
For months, the Trump administration has kept up pressure on Cuba as part of an effort to drive the government toward collapse. Instead, the Cuban government has stayed in power, leaving Trump dissatisfied with the results and questioning whether the campaign has been enough.
The tension now is not whether Washington will keep pressing. It is whether the administration can show any sign that its strategy is moving Cuba closer to the collapse Trump has been demanding. For now, the answer from the facts available is no.
