The Cuban-American congresswoman María Elvira Salazar published a video on her X account on Monday in which she responds to those asking when Cuba will get its turn, assuring that the island is in a “waiting period” similar to that which preceded the fall of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
"Everyone who stops me and asks, well, when is it for Cuba? This is the same waiting rhythm we saw in Venezuela. People would ask me, when is it? And look, it happened. I have no doubt that it will happen," stated the Republican legislator from Florida in the video.
Salazar went further and revealed what he described as his interpretation of the ongoing strategy: “What is happening right now is my understanding because it is a very closed circle that has knowledge, but knowing very well Marco's position and knowing President Trump's position, which is giving time to the Castro family.”
According to the congresswoman, the real holders of power in Cuba are not Miguel Díaz-Canel but Raúl Castro, who is 95 years old, along with his grandson and son, and the goal is for that core to "understand, assimilate, and internalize that the game is over" and choose to leave "through the back door."
"There’s no problem with them doing it. The point is that there is a clean, bloodless transition on that island," he noted, describing the process as "the same pattern" applied with Maduro: giving time until Trump decides enough is enough.
The message that accompanied the video concluded with a direct promise: "The dictatorship will not be eternal. Cuba will be free."
However, the comments section quickly became a flood of criticisms, mostly from Venezuelans who reject the idea of their country being portrayed as a success story.
The most frequently asked question focuses on the real state of Venezuela following the capture of Maduro: Delcy Rodríguez assumed the interim presidency with the support of Washington, Diosdado Cabello —who has a warrant for his arrest and a 25 million dollar bounty from U.S. justice— remains free and influential, and the country has no election date set. "Venezuela is not a success story; what Trump did in Venezuela is shameful, a deal with narco-terrorists to exploit oil while recycling the dictatorship," wrote one of the commentators.
Others pointed directly to economic interests as the real driving force behind Washington's foreign policy. "It will take longer because they don’t have oil... which is all that matters," wrote one. "To the Cuban people, I say: DON’T EXPECT MUCH. The actions of the Trump administration in Venezuela are showing that they are only motivated by economic interests," warned another.
The harshest warning came from a Cuban account: "I, being Cuban... would extend that deadline for a very, very long time... They fear that Trump and Rubio will do like in Venezuela. They will leave the regime in power, and Trump will say that the Cuban is happy and dancing in the streets, and Díaz-Canel is wonderful."
There were also those who recalled the historical dimension of the issue: "They've been saying the same thing for 67 years," wrote another user in English.
The post amassed over 35,000 views and 205 comments, with skepticism being the dominant tone in the responses. "If you think you're going to do with Cuba what you've done with Venezuela, it's best not to get involved," summarized another commentator the stance of many who reacted to the video.
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