Social media was flooded with criticism from Cubans against the Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg, after she posted a video in which she accuses Donald Trump of causing the crisis on the Island and calls for international solidarity with the Cuban government.
In her message, disseminated by CiberCuba on Instagram, the young woman stated that the United States is committing "a brutal act of collective punishment against the Cuban people" and blamed the Trump administration for the blackouts and shortages that the country is experiencing.
But his statement provoked an immediate reaction from dozens of Cubans who criticized him for ignoring—or overlooking—the political reality of the Island.
Many reminded him that in his video he does not mention the existence of a one-party system controlled by the Communist Party, nor does he speak of political prisoners, repression of demonstrations, or the absence of free elections for decades.
"Get informed better."
Among the most repeated comments is a direct criticism of the activist's lack of knowledge about the Cuban situation.
"Greta, you’re not doing well, get better informed," wrote a user.
Another person reacted with an equally strong tone: "No, Greta, you got it wrong this time."
The comments clearly reflect a discontent among Cubans who believe that the activist echoes the regime's narrative, focused solely on blaming the U.S. embargo for all the country's problems.
For many citizens both on and off the Island, this explanation overlooks decades of poor economic management, political control, and repression.
"Come live here"
Several users ironically invited Thunberg to experience daily life in Cuba before making judgments.
"Come to Cuba for a few days so you can see what it's like to live in a dictatorship," one person wrote.
Another comment was even more direct: "I invite you to live in the common people's town in Cuba for a few months and then come back to make a video."
Some users even mentioned specific neighborhoods in Havana, known for their economic hardships.
"Come down for a few days, Gretica... to Luyanó or Old Havana!" wrote a user.
Derision and sarcasm
The responses filled with sarcasm were not lacking.
An internet user remarked sarcastically on the distance between the activist's life in Europe and the reality of Cubans: "She says that from the comfort of her home in Sweden, hahaha."
Another user reacted with frustration: "We just needed this circus, it's unacceptable that they use us like this. Mother of God, ignorance is audacious."
There were also more mocking comments, like the one from a user who wrote: "What does the little squash say at 8:00 PM? Go to sleep, old hag."
Beyond the tone, most responses shared a central idea: Cubans feel their situation is being interpreted from the outside without taking into account the complexity of the reality they live in.
Thunberg's message
In the video, Thunberg states that the tightening of the embargo by the United States is "deliberately strangling the Cuban people."
The activist also denounced the blackouts affecting the Island and maintained that they are a direct consequence of the economic sanctions.
Additionally, he requested international support for the "Convoy Nuestra América," an initiative that plans to bring humanitarian aid to Havana on March 21.
The young woman also praised the Cuban medical missions abroad and concluded her message with the slogan "Cuba yes, blockade no!"
However, her intervention has been criticized for focusing exclusively on U.S. foreign policy without addressing the structural problems of the Cuban political system.
A response from the Cuban community itself
The reaction to Thunberg's words was not limited to comments on social media.
A Cuban woman identified as Kiele recently posted a video on Instagram directly responding to the Swedish activist.
The clip, which garnered tens of thousands of views in just a few days, challenges the arguments of the original message and urges him to become better informed about the actual situation in the country.
"What we need to talk about is how you, Greta, you need to educate yourself about the reality of what is happening in Cuba", Kiele says.
The video emerged following a previous statement from Thunberg supporting the international convoy aiming to reach Havana on March 21.
A discussion that reflects a broader conflict
The exchange between the Swedish activist and numerous Cubans on social media highlights a deeper debate.
On one hand, there are international campaigns that denounce the impact of U.S. sanctions on the Island's economy.
For Cubans, these campaigns overlook fundamental aspects of the country's internal situation, such as the lack of political freedoms, the repression of protests, and the ongoing deterioration of living conditions.
The reaction to Thunberg's video precisely reflects that tension: the rejection by those who feel that their reality is being simplified—or reinterpreted—from the outside.
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