Republican Congressman and Florida gubernatorial candidate Byron Donalds has once again intensified his rhetoric against the Cuban regime, asserting that "a brutal and murderous dictatorship is operating on the island and must go."
In a message posted on his official account on X, Donalds was emphatic: “My stance on Cuba is clear: the Cuban regime is a brutal, murderous communist dictatorship that has destroyed the freedom of the Cuban people for generations. The regime must go.”
The statements were accompanied by a video in which the politician responded to a journalist regarding his position on the island. "For a long time, I have wanted a change of regime," he stated. "We have a brutal dictator, a murderous communist regime in Cuba. They have destroyed the freedom of the Cuban people for almost two generations; now we are heading into the third. They should have left a long time ago."
When asked whether the president of the United States should get directly involved in that policy, Donalds replied, "Knowing Donald Trump, he is involved in every policy." He also added, "Just because a single source says something doesn't mean it's true," in an apparent reference to unconfirmed reports regarding specific decisions from the White House.
Key figure in Florida's Republican politics
Byron Lowell Donalds, 47 years old, has been the representative for Florida's 19th district in the United States House of Representatives since January 2021. A businessman and financial advisor by training, he is a member of the Republican Party and is part of the Freedom Caucus.
In February 2025, he formally announced his candidacy for governor of Florida for the 2026 elections, backed by President Donald Trump. He is currently competing in the Republican primary for his party’s nomination, ahead of the general elections scheduled for November 3, 2026.
The new statements reinforce the position previously expressed a few days earlier, when he sent a strong message regarding Cuba in support of the actions of the White House, aligning with the strategy of pressure against the regime of Miguel Díaz-Canel, under the political influence of Raúl Castro.
Florida and its Policy towards Cuba
Florida, home to a large community of Cuban exiles, has historically been a key stage in the debate over policy toward the island. In this context, Donalds' speech resonates with an electorate that demands a strong stance against Havana and explicit support for political change in Cuba.
His words come at a time of deep economic and social crisis in the country, marked by prolonged blackouts, food shortages, and increasing emigration. For millions of Cubans both on the island and abroad, the national political future remains a central topic in both Havana and Washington.
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