The Cuban actor Rigoberto Ferrera launched a scathing critique of the government in a video published on his Facebook account, where he used irony to mock the ruling leader Miguel Díaz-Canel following recent revelations about political contacts between Cuba and the United States.
"The blonde apparently eats crab, but he doesn't drink lemonade because he knows that's not the foundation of everything," Ferrera said sarcastically in a message that quickly went viral.
Ferrera's words come at a particularly delicate moment for the regime.
This week it was revealed that the U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio is having direct conversations with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro -nicknamed "the crab"- outside of the official channels of the government led by Díaz-Canel.
The information, revealed by Axios and confirmed by sources from the Trump administration, indicates that the contacts are not made with the formal structure of the Communist Party or with the current leader, but rather with the closest circle surrounding the historical leader of the regime.
On his part, the mention of "lemonade" brings to mind the now-famous statement by Díaz-Canel in 2020, when he declared at a Council of Ministers meeting that "lemonade is the foundation of everything", amid the food shortages on the Island.
The phrase, conceived as a call to promote citrus production, has become a symbol of disconnection from the everyday reality of Cubans, who face difficulties even in obtaining lemons or sugar, and has led to memes and parodies.
Although a senior U.S. official assured Axios that there are not exactly "negotiations," but rather discussions about the future of Cuba, the political backdrop is evident: exploring possible transition scenarios on the Island.
That these exchanges take place without the direct involvement of Díaz-Canel confirms the reality that the current leader is not the true center of power, and that strategic decisions continue to revolve around the historical circle of Castroism and the economic-military apparatus that controls key sectors of the country.
In that context, Ferrera's irony takes on a greater political dimension.
By stating that "the blonde (Donald Trump) apparently eats crab," he refers to a dialogue between the United States and Raúl Castro's circle, while dismissing the "lemonade," that metaphor which for almost six years has represented empty promises and makeshift solutions in the face of a structural crisis.
The actor's reaction reflects a common sentiment among many Cubans who observe how, while high-level discussions and potential changes are speculated upon, everyday life continues to be marked by scarcity, inflation, and the deterioration of basic services.
The economic crisis, exacerbated by years of centralized decisions and a lack of effective reforms, has brought the country to a breaking point where the government increasingly relies on political maneuvers and institutional control to maintain its stability.
The assertion that this could be the decisive year for the end of the current political system, driven by pressure from the Trump administration and the announcement that efforts would be made to close the cycle of the dictatorship, adds tension to the landscape.
Although there are no official confirmations of an ongoing transition process, the mere fact that external actors are engaging in dialogue with figures from the inner circle of historical power reveals cracks and internal rearrangements.
Amidst that backdrop, Ferrera's mockery is not just a clever phrase. It is a direct critique of a leadership that, for years, has provided slogans instead of solutions, while the population confronts increasingly severe hardships.
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