State Media Defends Díaz-Canel's Controversial Response to Hurricane Victim

Following the viral spread of a clip featuring Miguel Díaz-Canel responding with visible irritation to a hurricane victim in the town of El Cobre, Santiago de Cuba, the state-run program Chapeando Bajito has come to the leader's defense, blaming social media for distorting his words. The exchange captured in the video involved a woman who had lost her bed in the wake of Hurricane Melissa. "We don't have a bed," the local resident stated. "And I don't have one to give you now either," Díaz-Canel retorted, clearly agitated.

The footage sparked a wave of criticism both within Cuba and internationally, as many Cubans perceived the response as a display of arrogance and a lack of empathy for those affected by the disaster. The official podcast, Chapeando Bajito, hosted by journalist Arleen Rodríguez Derivet and broadcast on Facebook and Cubadebate, aimed to "clarify" the situation, accusing independent media of twisting the context.

State Media's Defense

Chapeando Bajito argued that the video circulating online was "conveniently edited" to misrepresent Díaz-Canel's response to the woman from Granma who reported losing her bed and mattress to the hurricane. The program labeled the clip as part of an "anti-Cuban propaganda effort" aimed at tarnishing the president's reputation. According to the show, the widely shared segment "omits parts of a more comprehensive response," in which the leader purportedly detailed recovery processes and the arrival of donations.

Broader Implications and Official Justifications

The program provided what it claimed was a full transcription of the exchange, where Díaz-Canel reiterated that he "didn't have a bed to give now," but promised future assistance through state resources and recovery teams. The state-run outlet also contended that the controversy is part of a "media operation" against the government at a time when it seeks to demonstrate "efficient management" in the hurricane's aftermath, notably without any fatalities.

Nevertheless, the official defense underscores the regime's concern with managing the narrative around the presidency amid growing social discontent and economic hardship. Meanwhile, the video continues to circulate on social media, accompanied by accounts from locals highlighting the lack of aid and worsening conditions in El Cobre, a historical symbol of faith and resilience.

The government's reaction once again confirms its preference for attacking the messenger rather than acknowledging the insensitivity of its own responses, even as thousands of eastern families grapple with the cyclone's devastation.