The new promise from Donald Trump that no Castro will remain in power in Cuba when his term ends sparked a wave of reactions among the readers of CiberCuba, with a common denominator in many of the comments: the disbelief at the repeated announcements from the U.S. president and the desperation of those who feel that time is running out.
There will be no one left to liberate, wrote one person, while another warned: Trump, hurry up because there will be no one left to enjoy Freedom. A third summed up the anxiety with a question: But how much longer do we have to wait, for God's sake.
The statements made on Friday during an interview with Benny Johnson place the resolution of the Cuban issue before the end of the presidential term in January 2029.
Trump stated that Marco Rubio is closely watching the situation and once again mentioned the U.S. operation that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela.
However, among the thousands of comments posted on the Facebook page of CiberCuba, the president's words sparked more mockery and skepticism than celebrations.
“The Tale of the Good Pipe,” “Aunt Tata Tells Stories,” “More Hype than Movie” and “The Same Old Story” were some of the phrases repeated by those who believe that Trump has been announcing events for too long that never seem to come to fruition.
Let me guess. He will reveal it in two weeks, and it will be beautiful, a reader joked. Another noted: It's no longer when he finishes with Iran, now it's in two years, when he leaves.
«This series has many seasons but never an end», wrote someone else, while another comment stated: «Too much blah, blah, blah and not enough action».
A lifetime of waiting
Beyond sarcasm, numerous reactions expressed a fatigue that transcends Trump's promises.
A reader recalled that his great-grandparents, grandparents, and father died waiting for the freedom of Cuba, and lamented that he too may not live to see it.
In two years, there may be few survivors left, remarked another. I don't want any more teeth, complained a participant. And one person simply asked: But please do it now.
There were also questions regarding the content of the presidential promise itself. Numerous readers recalled that Miguel Díaz-Canel, not a member of the Castro family, formally holds the presidency of Cuba.
Technically, he has already fulfilled that promise, one person joked. They are going to change the last name of the Crab, another commented, referring to the grandson of Raúl Castro, with whom the State Department has maintained contacts according to journalistic revelations.
Some went further and warned that removing the Castros from public office would not necessarily mean the end of the regime's structures. "They will not govern, but they will be the owners of Cuba," stated a reader.
Election suspicions and hopes that persist
The approach of the U.S. legislative elections on November 3rd also fueled the criticism.
Campaign aimed at Cubans for the midterms, said one participant. Once the elections on November 3 are over, they will forget the plan they have for Cuba, another stated.
There were those who compared the promise to what happened in Venezuela. "He did the same in Venezuela, removed Maduro, and left his entire cabinet intact," recalled a user, while another succinctly pointed out: "Maduro didn't believe it either."
Despite the prevalence of skepticism in the comments examined, there were also expressions of confidence and support.
"I do believe in Trump", stated a reader. Another defended that never before had a U.S. administration spoken so much about the freedom of Cuba and asked for patience, convinced that change might be closer than it seems.
Hopefully it’s true, God willing, and We will continue to trust in you were other favorable responses.
The reactions do not constitute a representative survey of Cuban opinion, but they reflect a recurring tension among the participants: the hope that Washington will contribute to the end of the regime coexists with growing frustration over the promises and deadlines that continue to arise.
For those who continue to await a political transformation while enduring daily hardships, the issue does not seem to be solely whether Trump will keep his promise, but rather how much longer they will have to wait.
"Stop misguiding us", a reader requested.
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