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The United States Embassy in Cuba posted a greeting on its Facebook page this Thursday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his birthday, accompanied by a direct question to the Cubans: "What message do you want to send him?".
The post included a photograph featuring Rubio and the head of the mission at the Embassy in Havana, Mike Hammer, posing together in an institutional office, both making the "L" gesture with their fingers — a symbol of Freedom — and smiling.
The announcement sparked an avalanche of comments from Cubans who seized the opportunity to send messages of affection, hope, and demands for freedom.
The vast majority expressed support for the official and urged him to make the freedom of Cuba a reality.
"Many blessings for our Marco Rubio. May God continue to grant him good health and a long life, and may he bless us with a Cuba free of communism," wrote Denis Regalado Lezcano.
Odalys Sánchez was more direct: "Congratulations to the best Secretary of State. May God bless you today and always. Thank you for defending our homeland. Freedom for our Cuba."
Ernesto Almaguer summed up the sentiment of many with a phrase: "My respects. Pride of Cuban blood. Cuba thanks you, the truth is in the streets."
Several users took their wishes further. Zoila Herrera wished "happy birthday, future president of Cuba," while Lania Rodríguez proposed a complete formula: "Marco Rubio president of Cuba. Mike Hammer vice president."
Arley Barceló combined congratulations with a plea: "Congratulations, it's your birthday, but give us a free Cuba on your day and then we will all celebrate as Cubans."
Not all comments were in the same direction. A user identified as Der Matías simply wrote, "Long live the Cuban revolution," while Dim Elo took a more pragmatic tone: "Stop the chatter and just solve the issue with Cuba."
The publication is part of an active public diplomacy strategy by the Embassy on social media.
Just two days earlier, the U.S. mission invited Cubans to share messages about freedom as part of the #Freedom250 campaign, related to the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The gesture of the "L" for Liberty made by Rubio and Hammer in the photograph aligns with this communication strategy, which aims to connect emotionally with the Cuban people by using the Secretary of State—who has Cuban roots—as a symbolic bridge between Washington and the island.
On May 20th, Cuba's Independence Day, Rubio had already issued a direct message to the Cuban people holding the regime and GAESA accountable for the crisis facing the island, to which the regime responded with the publication of a book against him.
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