A new incident involving the head of the U.S. Mission in Cuba, Mike Hammer, has sparked controversy following the circulation on social media of a video in which a group of alleged "revolutionary" citizens confronts him during his stay in Varadero.
The images, shared by profiles linked to the Ministry of the Interior (MININT), are part of what the diplomat himself had already reported as a campaign of harassment and manipulation.
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On the surface, the individuals presented themselves as citizens interested in dialogue, but they quickly steered the conversation toward political questioning, in what is now confirmed to be a staged scene to record the diplomat and use his image for propaganda purposes.
In the video, the interlocutors simulated a casual encounter with Hammer, criticizing him for the U.S. embargo and urging him to "help" the Cuban people by removing Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism.
Although the diplomat responded courteously and avoided confrontations, he declined to continue the exchange and withdrew, showing discomfort at the insistence of the supposed citizens.
“Now what we have the most of is Cuban tourism,” said one of the regime supporters who spoke to Hammer. “We are very frustrated with the tourism issue, because of the blockade, because... the blockade prevents people from coming,” said a woman who was with him.
Without allowing him to respond, the "revolutionary" Cuban initiated another question: "You really like talking to Cubans. And you express that you want to help the people… save them from the dictatorship, as you call it…". With a smile, Hammer clarified, "No, what we want is for the Cuban people to decide."
"The Cuban people in general have already decided! And they decided on the Revolution!" exclaimed the supposed "spontaneous" interlocutor. Without losing his composure, the American diplomat simply asked, "What about those who were born after '59?" triggering even greater excitement among the group of "revolutionaries."
“Let's see if we eat in Varadero,” Hammer said before leaving, while one of the speakers pointed out that he had not finished the conversation: “This one only likes to hear what other people can tell him.”
The video, which was shared on by the officialist profile “La Tía Carmen,” was accompanied by messages that attempted to discredit Hammer and portray him as an "intervener" acting outside the restrictions imposed by U.S. laws on tourism in Cuba.
"La Tía Carmen," a regular spokesperson for pro-government campaigns on social media, questioned the legality of Hammer's diplomatic mission on the island and mocked his previous comments about the presence of Russian tourists in Varadero. "In his paranoia, he almost suggested that there was some ultra-secret Russian base hidden in a hotel," the account stated.
The shared content once again aimed to reinforce the official narrative that Hammer seeks to destabilize the country and promote a negative image of the so-called "revolution."
This new episode adds to other similar incidents reported by Hammer in recent weeks.
During a journey on the small boat of Regla, he was the target of a repudiation act led by undercover agents, and also faced provocations in public encounters in Havana and Matanzas.
In all cases, the diplomat has reiterated his willingness to engage in dialogue with Cubans from all sectors, but he has criticized the use of intimidation and manipulation tactics that tarnish any genuine attempt at exchange.
The discrediting campaign against him coincides with a period of increasing visibility for the official on the island, where he has emphasized the need to listen to the Cuban people, without intermediaries or censorship, and has voiced criticisms of the failures of the current economic and political model.
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