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The President of the United States, Donald Trump, stated this Friday during a rally of Turning Point USA held in Phoenix, Arizona, that "very soon" the great strength of the U.S. military will bring a new dawn for Cuba, describing that moment as 70 years in waiting.
The words of the U.S. president unleashed a torrent of reactions among Cubans both on the island and abroad, characterized by an explosive mix of desperate hope, sharp skepticism, and accumulated frustration.
The comment that best summarized the collective sentiment was direct and unembellished: "But what day exactly????" Other users were equally blunt: "Don't promote it so much, just do it already," "Before November, please," and "Let it be soon, very soon; the People can't take it anymore, while the Power continues to enjoy and oppress."
Exhaustion also had a voice of its own: "Oh no, bye, I can't take it anymore, my mental health is shattered, my nerves are in shambles, I go on social media and there's a lot of blah blah blah, but I see no action." Someone sarcastically asked, "Will there be time to march on May First?" while another had already jokingly coordinated with their family in Cuba: "In my grandmother's yard in Cuba, planes can land; I've already talked to her."
In his speech, Trump directly appealed to the Cuban-American community, describing its members as people "brutally treated, whose families were murdered and brutalized," and he concluded with a warning: "And now, look at what is happening."
The statement is the most recent link in a chain of increasingly explicit presidential declarations. Last Wednesday, Trump said, "We might stop in Cuba after we finish with this," referring to the conflict with Iran. On March 27, in Miami Beach, he claimed amidst laughter: "Cuba is next, but pretend I didn't say that". On March 16, he declared from the White House: "I believe I will have the honor of taking Cuba". And on January 3, hours after the capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, Trump stated from Air Force One that "Cuba is ready to fall".
In parallel to its rhetoric, the Trump administration is maintaining an active diplomatic channel. Today, it was revealed through Axios that officials from the State Department met in Havana with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro, the grandson of Raúl Castro, to offer Starlink, economic relief, and a possible lifting of the embargo in exchange for free elections and the release of political prisoners.
The Cuban regime, for its part, responded with rhetoric of resistance. Yesterday, Díaz-Canel warned of a possible U.S. military aggression invoking the anniversary of the Bay of Pigs and urged the people to prepare to combat it. On April 7, he had warned in Newsweek of a "guerrilla war involving the entire population" and predicted "immense losses" for any invading force. However, the military exercises on April 11 in Villa Clara, which showcased artillery pulled by oxen and mules carrying supplies, highlighted the real decay of the Cuban armed forces and generated widespread mockery on social media.
"Throw it in the compost!", wrote another user, in what became the comment—in a reparter tone—that best captured the mood of those who have been waiting for a change for decades.
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