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The Cuban regime organized a political event this Friday at the José Martí Anti-Imperialist Tribune, in front of the United States Embassy on the Havana Malecón, which included a tribute in advance to Raúl Castro just days before his 95th birthday. However, the guest of honor did not appear, leading to a wave of mockery and ironic comments from Cubans on social media.
The event was called by the Union of Young Communists and other mass, student, and youth organizations, officially presented as a response to "new accusations from the United States against Cuba," but also as a gesture of defense and an early celebration of the former leader, who will turn 95 on June 3rd.
The absence of Castro was the focus of all reactions.
"Wasn't the honoree present at the event?" asked a user on social media. "Where is the celebrated one? Is there fear?" added another person. One internet user was more direct: "And Raúl is in the cave!"
Other users pointed out the composition of the audience. "There are more olive green uniforms than people, no one supports this," wrote a Cuban, referencing the massive presence of military and police among the attendees, something that was also documented in reports about the forced call to the event.
One person captured the feelings of many with a phrase: "The hidden China, and the clowns in their circus. They never tire."
Humor also had its place. A reader wrote with irony: "Today, at the event, Cándido Fabré sang 'Let Raúl Surrender,' and we all cried from the emotion." Another person declared: "They are saying their goodbyes."
A user posted a series of phrases that circulated widely: "Raúl is Raúl... but not even he believes the parade," "Raúl is Raúl... 60 years sucking the life out of the people," and "Raúl is Raúl... the last survivor of the Soviet museum."
The absence of Castro this Friday is not an isolated event. In March 2026, he also did not attend the 9th Congress of the Communist Party, where Miguel Díaz-Canel was confirmed as the first secretary. In April, Díaz-Canel himself acknowledged in an interview with Telesur that Castro is "alive but retired for health reasons" and that he is "fragile due to his advanced age."
His last public appearance had been on May 1 at the same Anti-Imperialist Tribune, visibly deteriorated, marking his first public event since December 2025. Just three weeks later, he was absent again from an event organized in his name.
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