The Republican congressman from Florida, Carlos A. Giménez, stirred up controversy this Sunday with a post on X (formerly Twitter) targeting Cuba's leader, Miguel Díaz-Canel. The message carried a distinctly threatening tone: "The puppet dictator of Cuba is next," stated the Cuban-American politician, intensifying his warnings toward the Cuban regime, which has been a continuous target of the Trump administration's communications in recent days.
Accompanying the post was an edited image depicting Díaz-Canel handcuffed, dressed similarly to the widely circulated photos following Nicolás Maduro's capture in Caracas during a U.S. special forces operation on January 4th. This imagery and wording from Giménez explicitly suggest that the Cuban dictator could face a fate akin to his Venezuelan counterpart.
The congressman's message aligns with the escalating tensions between Washington and Havana, sparked by the U.S. action in Venezuela and subsequent warnings from President Donald Trump to the Cuban government. Recently, Trump declared that "not a drop of oil or a dollar will flow from Venezuela to Cuba," urging Havana to "make a deal before it's too late," prompting a harsh response from Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla.
Giménez's post, which resonated with hundreds of users within hours, bolsters the hardline rhetoric of the more radical Republican faction. This group directly blames the Cuban regime for the Venezuelan security and repression apparatus and views it as the "head of the snake" representing adversarial interests of nations like China, Russia, and Iran in the region.
While Cuba's totalitarian regime asserts that it "fears no threats," signs from Washington, social media, and Congress indicate that the political and symbolic pressure on Havana is tightening.
Cuban Political Tensions: Frequently Asked Questions
What sparked Carlos Giménez's warning to Díaz-Canel?
Giménez's warning was part of a broader response to escalating tensions between the United States and Cuba, particularly following U.S. actions in Venezuela and President Trump's warnings to the Cuban regime.
How did Díaz-Canel respond to Giménez's message?
There is no direct response from Díaz-Canel mentioned, but Cuba's foreign minister, Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, issued a strong rebuttal to President Trump's statements.
What does the image shared by Giménez suggest?
The image implies that Díaz-Canel might face a similar outcome to Nicolás Maduro, who was depicted in a similar manner following his capture by U.S. forces.