
A visibly shaken Nick Shirley found himself in what he described as the most dangerous situation he’s ever been in, while visiting Cuba last week to record what it’s like to live inside a Communist country.
“Hey everyone, this is Nick Shirley reporting live from Havana, Cuba. I am currently in probably the most dangerous situation I’ve ever been in in my life right now.”

In a terrifying real-time video posted to X, independent journalist Nick Shirley is speaking from a hotel room in Havana, Cuba, warning that he and his two security guards may be on the verge of being kidnapped or detained by Cuban intelligence agents.
Shirley traveled to Cuba on a journalistic visa to document the brutal reality of life under 60+ years of communist dictatorship and the devastating effects of the U.S. embargo. What he found — and what the regime is desperately trying to hide — is a country in total collapse.
According to Shirley, Cuban authorities seized all of his professional cameras, GoPros, microphones, and equipment the moment he landed at the airport. Shirley, who seemed surprised, claims they only left with only his iPhone and a small microphone that somehow security at the airport missed. Shirley reportedly used his phone and microphone to interview Cuban citizens and to document the unimaginable living conditions in the Communist country.
The 24-year-old independent journalist, who instantly became an online phenom when he exposed the Somali daycare fraud with longtime fraud investigator David Hoch, appears unusually agitated, as he typically remains very calm, suggesting he is in real danger. In his video, shot from the inside of his hotel room, Shirley explains that Cuban spies and intelligence agents began following him and his security team immediately after his arrival. Shirley also reveals that the agents are now waiting in the lobby of their hotel, and he and his team are actively planning an emergency escape route because they fear imminent detention or worse.
Shirley claims he chose the hotel where he is currently hiding out because it’s the only hotel in Cuba that provides 24/7 electricity to its guests.
Here are just a few of Nick Shirley’s chilling comments made from inside his Havana hotel room:
“This is probably the most dangerous situation I’ve ever been into…”
“Right now we legit have Cuban spies at the bottom of our hotel room… They are literally trying to kidnap, detain me and my two security guards…”
“If the video does make it out into the world, I have either been kidnapped or safe…”
Shirley describes horrifying conditions on the ground in Cuba: constant power outages, gasoline so expensive that one liter costs around $10, crumbling buildings, empty streets, long lines at hospitals, and surgeons forced to operate by flashlight.
He repeatedly emphasizes that going without an official government “guide” made him an immediate target and that under communism, there is zero freedom of the press or speech.
“We’re about a mile and a half away from the US Embassy right now, which could be our possible way out of this situation by going to the embassy,” Shirley explains, as he discusses a potential plan to get to the US Embassy in Cuba, while explaining they first have to get by the Cuban intelligence agents in the lobby of his hotel. “The main one [plan] is to leave here and then go play taxi tag… hopping in another taxi to make sure we aren’t getting trailed by them, and then make our way to the Embassy, and then from the Embassy buy our flight around 7 a.m. And then sneak our way out for the night and make our way into the Embassy.” Shirley says, while explaining they are on the 8th floor of the hotel, and that an unmarked vehicle, which he believes followed them back to the hotel with the intelligence agents, has been parked outside their room since they arrived.
As a backup or last-resort plan, Shirley mentions surrendering themselves to the US Coast Guard: “Another option is to steal a boat and take it all the way to the Coast Guard, then surrender to the U.S. Coast Guard [and] make our way into the United States,” the clearly distressed young journalist lays out their options.
The brave young journalist appears to be making this urgent video as an “insurance policy” in case he and his team are taken by the Communist regime and locked up—or worse.
I was almost taken hostage in Cuba…
I went to Cuba to document the humanitarian crisis and show life under 60+ years of communism and now amid the US blockade. Once I landed, they seized all my cameras except my iPhone and had intelligence agents following me all day until… pic.twitter.com/6VFQCOakGZ— Nick shirley (@nickshirleyy) May 4, 2026
This video was shared on his social media accounts yesterday. There is no official word that he is back in the United States yet, but he did post on “X” only hours ago, saying he would be releasing footage from inside Cuba for his followers:
“Full video/doc from Cuba coming out in the next few days, follow to not miss. Will be something like you have never seen before,” Shirley posted.
There are several ways you can support Nick Shirley and his work. I purchased one of his “Learing Center” sweatshirts, and everyone loves it! He also has an Anti-Fraud Club page where you can go to support him or buy his products HERE.
The post WATCH: Visibly Shaken Nick Shirley Makes Insurance Video While Hiding In Havana Hotel Room From Cuban Intelligence Agents In Lobby “They’re literally trying to KIDNAP me!”–“This is probably the most dangerous situation I’ve ever been in my life right now” appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
I was almost taken hostage in Cuba…