The Cuban-American businessman Jorge Mas stated that there is a real ability within the exile community to envision a different future for the island, during an interview with journalist Mario J. Pentón, in which he discussed his recent meeting with the President of the United States, Donald Trump.
"We have the ability to dream, to dream of a fully free future Cuba, a prosperous Cuba, a Cuba that allows Cubans to pursue their own dreams through their own work and sacrifices, without a government dictating who they are or what they can or cannot do," Mas expressed.
In the conversation, the businessman highlighted that this desire for change coexists with the historical weight of the Cuban exile, which he described as an experience marked by the sacrifices of generations who left the island in search of opportunities.
"We can celebrate life and hope, and the ability to dream," he added, recalling the impact that themass exodus of Cubans has had in recent decades.
But he also referred to the current political context and the meeting he held at the White House with Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, where he stated that they directly addressed issues related to Cuba, exile, and the possibility of a transformation in the country.
"The meeting at the White House with President Trump and accompanied by Secretary of State Marco Rubio (...) was a great afternoon for me because we talked about Cuba, we talked about our homeland, we talked about the full freedom of the Cuban people," he stated.
According to what he explained, that exchange left him with a clear impression of the current U.S. administration's stance on the island, in line with what he had already expressed after that same meeting by stating that “the day of freedom for our homeland is approaching”.
"I found in the President of the United States a man with a complete conviction to help the Cuban people achieve their freedom," he stated.
The rapprochement between figures from the Cuban exile community and the Trump administration occurs in a context where public signals from Washington indicate possible changes in Cuba. During a reception for the Inter Miami club at the White House, the president suggested that Cubans might return to the island in the near future.
In that context, Mas insisted that exile keeps alive a vision of the country based on individual freedom, personal effort, and the absence of a state that limits the decisions of its citizens.
For the businessman, the possibility of a different Cuba depends not only on political factors, but also on the ability of the Cubans themselves to envision that future.
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