The Cuban government reaffirmed on May 2 its refusal to negotiate political or economic reforms with the United States, and Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel said U.S. President Donald Trump had elevated threats to "dangerous and unprecedented" levels, Deutsche Welle reported on May 3. On May 1, Trump signed an executive order blocking the U.S.-based assets of entities operating in Cuba's energy, mining, defense, security or technological sectors.

On May 1, Trump said he could take Cuba "almost immediately" after finishing "the job" in Iran and that the United States would move USS Abraham Lincoln to Cuban shores. At an international Labor Day event in Havana the next day, Diaz-Canel called for the international community not to tolerate "U.S. abuse," while Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez warned Washington against a military operation, claiming the island would become a "death trap" if invaded. The two countries have engaged in negotiations after a U.S. imposed blockade significantly worsened Cuba's economic, energy and humanitarian crises in recent months.