Uruguayan-American activist and influencer Carlos Eduardo Espina stated that more and more Cubans are joining his audience on social media, attributing this growth to a shift in perception regarding the warnings he has been giving to the community about the Republican Party and its immigration policies for years.
"The Cubans love me, they are following me en masse. Do you know why? Because I have always been real with them," Espina stated in a video posted on Facebook, where he showed statistics that, as he explained, reflect a steady growth of Cuban followers.
The reel surpassed 155,000 views and garnered nearly 9,000 positive reactions.
Espina, who has over 20 million followers across her various platforms, leveraged that data to revisit one of the controversies that has marked her relationship with part of the Cuban community in the United States for years.
As he recalled, many Cubans accused him of being a communist due to his strong criticisms of Donald Trump and for publicly questioning Republican figures such as Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, whom he once again labeled as "charlatans."
"Down with the dictatorship, down with communism. I am not a communist at all, I am simply a realist," Espina replied.
The influencer stated that the current immigration policies of the Trump administration ultimately reinforced the warnings he had made for years.
"What has María Elvira Salazar done for you? What has Marco Rubio done for you? Take away parole, take away all statuses, take away all protections, deport you, separate families," she stated.
Espina's words reflect his own political assessment of the immigration measures adopted by the Trump administration and the responsibility he assigns to both Republican leaders.
In that context, he recalled the humanitarian parole implemented during the Joe Biden administration for citizens of Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, a program that was later abolished by the Trump administration.
"How many waited for their family members with humanitarian parole at the Miami airport? How many of you felt fear? None felt fear because they were loved, they were cherished," he expressed.
Espina also defended the Democratic Party as a better alternative for immigrants, although he acknowledged that it also needs changes.
"It’s not that the Democrats are perfect, but it is the way forward. Certain things do need to be reformed," he pointed out.
A relationship marked by controversies
Espina's relationship with part of the Cuban community has been marked by numerous confrontations on social media.
In September 2023, it went viral after claiming that many Latin Americans rejected Cubans in the United States because, according to their argument, some supported politicians with restrictive positions on immigration while demanding immigration protection for themselves.
In March 2025, he was involved in another social media confrontation with a Cuban who was making derogatory comments about Mexicans. A year later, he sparked debate again by questioning why flights to Cuba were still full amidst protests and the severe situation the island was facing.
His new message has not gone unnoticed either.
Among the comments, there are numerous Cubans supporting the influencer. "I am Cuban, I live in Cuba, and I love you very much. I follow you and watch you whenever I can," wrote one user.
Others, however, maintain their reservations.
"I'm not convinced. He supported cubanophobia and the hatred and envy towards Cubans in the United States. He's just trying to clear his name a little," questioned another internet user.
Espina, for his part, chose to conclude the video by moving past the confrontations and extending a hand to those who are now engaging with his content.
"Thanks to the Cubans who are supporting me these days. I know we had our difficult moments, but now it's all about moving forward," he concluded.
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