The Cuban-American bakery CAO Bakery & Café, located in Pinecrest, in Miami-Dade County, became embroiled in a political controversy after the Democratic candidate Eliott Rodríguez released a video of his visit to the establishment alongside Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic minority leader in the United States House of Representatives.
The visit sparked criticism on social media and led the business owners to publicly clarify that hosting politicians did not mean supporting any candidate or party. The controversy was reported by NBC6 South Florida.
The origin of the controversy
The visit took place on Friday, October 16, when Jeffries toured South Florida to support the campaign of Rodríguez, the Democratic candidate for Congressional District 27, where he is competing against the Republican María Elvira Salazar.
The images circulated by Rodríguez sparked criticism against the bakery, with some users accusing it of supporting socialist politicians for having welcomed Democratic leaders.
In response to the reactions, Yvette Rodríguez Cao, partner and marketing director of the establishment, issued a statement to explain what happened.
"I have read your messages and I understand why what happened on Friday has hurt you. I want to explain to you what occurred," he stated at the beginning of his statement.
The businesswoman was unequivocal: “Opening our doors was not a support for any candidate, party, or platform.”
In an interview with NBC6, he reaffirmed the family's political stance: "We defend freedom and are against communism."
Rodríguez Cao explained that the meeting had initially been organized as an informal visit and that he was unaware of the media impact it would have.
"On Thursday, a Congressional campaign team reached out to us to inform us that their Cuban-American candidate would be in the area and to ask if he could stop by for a coffee and greet the community," he recounted.
The businesswoman defended the decision to welcome visitors and explained that the business does not exclude customers based on their political views. “As a business, we do not discriminate against anyone for their political opinions, but at the same time, I did not know that this would turn into a press conference,” she assured.
Following the controversy, CAO Bakery released a statement on Instagram to reaffirm its political stance and its ties to the Cuban-American community.
“CAO supports our Cuban-American community, advocates for a free Cuba, and condemns socialism. That will never change,” stated the establishment.
Rodríguez Cao also recalled his family's history of exile and the sacrifices made by previous generations to establish themselves in the United States.
"Our family is here because of everything our parents and grandparents sacrificed to reach this country. We know what they left behind, and everything we have built has been possible thanks to the freedom this country has given us," he pointed out.
The businesswoman insisted that the bakery is a space for community engagement, regardless of the political opinions of its visitors.
"CAO has always been a place where people chat over a coffee, where families gather, and where our traditions remain alive," she concluded.
Vicky Bakery clarifies that it is independent
The controversy also reached Vicky Bakery, a chain with historical family ties to CAO Bakery.
Vicky Bakery was founded in 1972 in Hialeah by Cuban exiles Antonio and Gelasia Cao.
However, Vicky Bakery clarified that it is a legally independent company, with different owners, and that the visit from the Democratic politicians did not take place at any of its locations.
The network issued its own statement to distance itself from the episode and reaffirm its values related to the Cuban exile experience.
María Elvira Salazar lashes out at Eliott Rodríguez
The controversy has shifted to the electoral dispute for Congressional District 27, where Rodríguez is trying to unseat the Republican Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar.
Salazar posted a photo at Vicky Bakery and harshly criticized his Democratic rival for taking Jeffries to a Cuban bakery in Miami.
In a message posted on X, the congresswoman accused Rodríguez of politically exploiting the establishment and of being insensitive to a community marked by Cuban exile.
"Eliott Rodríguez took the man who hopes to lead the socialists in Congress to a Cuban bakery in Miami and, in one fell swoop, demonstrated his limited knowledge of this community. He and his socialist friends turned a small Cuban business into a political tool and left the business to deal with the consequences," Salazar wrote.
"It is an insult to showcase this ideology in a community built by survivors of socialism and to support precisely those who defend it. If Eliott does not understand the people he intends to serve, how can Miami trust him in Congress?" he added.
Rodríguez responded by accusing Salazar of trying to harm a small business through political attacks on social media.
The Democratic candidate also released images of Salazar interviewing Fidel Castro in the 1990s. The congresswoman defended that meeting as part of her journalistic work.
The controversy arises in the midst of the electoral campaign
The confrontation occurs just over two weeks before the legislative elections on November 3, in which Salazar seeks to retain his seat against Rodríguez.
Jeffries arrived in Miami on October 16 to support Rodríguez's candidacy, three days before the start of early voting in Miami-Dade.
The visit to CAO Bakery ultimately turned into a point of contention between the two candidates, while the establishment's representatives insist that allowing political figures to enter does not imply support for their positions.
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