The Cuban-American congresswoman María Elvira Salazar expressed her confidence in the role played by Senator Marco Rubio within the United States' strategy toward the island, in the context of Donald Trump's renewed leadership in the White House.
During a phone interview with the program Actualidad Radio, Salazar stated that Rubio "is not mistaken" and that he deeply understands the suffering of the Cuban people under the dictatorship.
"With Trump in the White House and knowing the character, this is a completely different game... which for my deceased grandmother, my parents, all my generations... and many of the people listening to us, is news of biblical proportions," stated the congresswoman.
Although he acknowledged that there is "a lot of secrecy in the White House and the State Department" regarding what is being managed, he stated that there are reasons to trust in the direction of events because Rubio is involved.
“However, we know that Marco Rubio is leading this. And Rubio is not mistaken and knows very well... I always say with great pride that he is my voter, he lives in my district, and we all belong to that first group of Cuban Americans who saw our parents suffer under the Cuban dictatorship, which has undoubtedly been the most brutal seen in the Western Hemisphere since Christopher Columbus arrived,” he added.
On social media, Salazar strengthened his optimism about the immediate future of the island, linking his hope to the figure of Trump and the role of Rubio.
"After 67 years of dictatorship, many believe it is impossible to bring down the regime. I know it is possible: all it takes is political will," he wrote.
"With President Donald Trump and Secretary Marco Rubio in the White House, we know that the day of Cuba's freedom is closer than ever," he added.
Context: A political offensive against the Cuban regime
Salazar's statements arrive at a time of intensification of political discourse in Washington and, particularly, in South Florida, where pressure from the exile community for a "maximum pressure" policy against the Cuban regime is increasing.
In recent days, the congresswoman dismissed the statements of the regime's top leaders as irrelevant.
In a post on X, he/she wrote:
"Anything said by Miguel Díaz-Canel, Raúl Castro, Bruno Rodríguez, or any accomplice of the Cuban regime deserves neither attention nor legitimacy."
Salazar accused them of having robbed the Cuban people of their freedom, prosperity, and future, and stated that no leader in the democratic world should listen to those who represent a people they keep hostage.
"Cuba does not need spokespeople for the dictatorship. It needs freedom," he declared.
Trump's Policy and the Turning Point
The Congresswoman reacted positively to the new executive order signed by President Donald Trump, which declares a national emergency and paves the way for imposing tariffs on countries that continue to send oil to Cuba.
For Salazar, this measure represents a strategic turning point and an act of firmness in response to what he perceives as a threat to the national security of the United States, due to the Cuban government's alliances with Russia, China, Iran, and other actors identified as terrorists.
But beyond the official politics, Salazar directed his messages to the exiled Cubans, urging them to take on an "inescapable historical responsibility."
In her words, the Cuban dictatorship only stands because of the money that comes from abroad, and cutting off that flow is key to hastening its collapse.
The legislator went further and called for a complete cessation of all forms of financial aid to the Cuban government.
In his messages, he stated that this is the decisive moment, and that any gesture of normalization—whether it be sending money, traveling to the island, or going on vacation—prolongs the repression, although he acknowledged the emotional cost of ceasing support for family members on the island.
Filed under: