Related videos:
More than 140,000 views in just a few hours and a flood of comments marked the reaction of Cubans to a recent post by Cubadebate that attempted to highlight a supposed "humiliation" of the U.S. SWAT team in front of a Chinese female brigade during a physical competition.
The official media shared a video from Russia Today that compared the performance of both groups in a test of strength and coordination. However, instead of generating applause or support, the publication sparked a wave of criticism, mocking, and questions directed at the state portal itself.
“Did Cuba participate?” was one of the most repeated phrases in the comments. Other users sarcastically inquired about the National Revolutionary Police (PNR), the Black Wasps, or the Cuban special troops, while some recalled recent episodes in which U.S. forces have acted in the region.
Several internet users criticized that, amid the crisis facing the island, with blackouts, food shortages, and garbage piling up in the streets, the official media dedicated space to a video like this. "The country is falling apart and you are focused on this," wrote one user. Another comment directly questioned the journalistic rigor: "Is this news?"
Some pointed out that the comparison lacked context or that the event is a regular competition among teams from different countries. There were also those who deemed the post as "propaganda" or a distraction from internal issues.
The massive reaction highlights the growing discontent among a segment of the citizenry regarding the content disseminated by state media, especially when it is perceived as disconnected from the everyday concerns of the population.
What was meant to be a piece of symbolic confrontation ended up becoming a thermometer for the mood on social media: rather than debating foreign special forces, many Cubans took the opportunity to express frustration, sarcasm, and criticism towards the country's internal management.
Filed under: