A post by official journalist Francisco Rodríguez Cruz, vice president of the Union of Journalists of Cuba (UPEC), sparked a wave of outrage on social media following his return from a trip to Venezuela, at a time when Cuba is experiencing the deepest crisis in its recent history.
"Back in Cuba, the two most important conclusions from my visit to Venezuela," wrote Rodríguez Cruz on Facebook.
Rodríguez listed the final reflections from his trip: that Nicolás Maduro is "winning the fight against Trump and the counter-revolution," and that he himself "still doesn't know how to dance or keep the beat."
The text was accompanied by a video showing him smiling, waving a Cuban flag, and dancing in a room full of people, with loud music and a festive atmosphere, very far from the everyday reality faced by millions of Cubans.
Rather than evoking sympathy, the post was perceived by dozens of users as an outright mockery of a impoverished community.
The comments quickly flooded the post, turning into a torrent of reproaches aimed not only at the official but also at what he represents: an official press disconnected from the social reality of the country.
A user from Baracoa questioned the waste of public resources on "partying events," while they have been repeating the same discourse for 60 years. "Defending a narco-dictatorship and cashing in on oil," she said.
Other comments were even more direct: "With what money did you go to stroll in Venezuela? Why didn't Maduro fight for his oil ship if he's winning the battle? Does he know where it says danger?" a woman declared.
From both inside and outside the Island, the reaction was similar.
"Enjoy your last moments, because after Maduro, it's your turn, so you're going to dance in jail," announced a Cuban resident in Miami.
A doctor called the journalist "clown" and "disgusting," while another doctor questioned the claim that Maduro "is beating Trump," and recalled the recent seizure of a tanker by the United States.
The criticism highlighted the source of the money funding these trips.
"How nice it is to travel with the people's money," wrote a user, a phrase that was repeated with variations throughout the thread.
For many, the video is not just a trivial anecdote, but evidence of a class of officials and spokespersons who enjoy privileges while demanding sacrifices from the population.
Independent journalist José Raúl Gallego summarized the feelings of many by pointing out the contradiction in a country where "Cubans don't even have an aspirin" while officials travel and celebrate with public funds.
"Another one living the good life and taking paid trips at the expense of the people's misery," expressed a Havana resident.
Other users spoke of "parasites" and a moral decay reflected in the dance scene, music, and festive atmosphere.
Several voices highlighted the contrast between the internal situation and the political message that Rodríguez Cruz is trying to convey.
"How do they travel, instead of investing that money in the poor Cuban people who are dying, not only from chikungunya, but from hunger and everything else," wrote a teacher.
"And who paid for that trip? Ahhh, yes, I know, the people who are dying of hunger, misery, and need; that’s how anyone defends this sh...," criticized the user identified as Dios Salve a Cuba.
The complete disconnect between the image projected by a high-ranking official of the state media and the reality experienced by most Cubans has sparked outrage.
For many commentators, the dancing and laughter were not an innocent gesture, but a provocation: the graphic representation of a power that celebrates political alliances and trips abroad while the country sinks into scarcity and despair.
The avalanche of criticism made it clear that this time, the mockery did not go unnoticed.
Instead of applause, the festive return from Venezuela turned into a public trial on social media, where hundreds of Cubans expressed their frustration with an elite that remains oblivious to the everyday suffering of the people.
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