Cuban-American Congressman Carlos A. Giménez issued a stern warning to Lis Cuesta Peraza, the wife of Miguel Díaz-Canel, following recent developments in Venezuela that led to the capture of Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Flores by U.S. special forces.
"Our message to chief accomplice Lis Cuesta: you still have time to hand over Díaz-Canel. I doubt you'll fare well in a federal prison," wrote the Republican legislator on his X account (formerly Twitter). The message quickly circulated among Cuban exiles and regime opponents.
Giménez's statement referenced the Delta Force operation ordered by President Donald Trump on January 3, which resulted in the arrest of Maduro and his wife in Caracas, signaling the definitive collapse of Chavismo after more than 20 years in power.
This message is part of a series of warnings directed at the Havana regime in recent days. The Republican legislator had already declared that "the days of the Cuban regime colonizing Venezuela and oppressing its people are over," in reference to Cuba's role in supporting Chavismo.
Soon after, he shared another post with the caption "Cuba's puppet dictator is next," accompanied by an illustration of Miguel Díaz-Canel in handcuffs, echoing the images released after Nicolás Maduro's capture.
In this sequence of posts, Giménez openly suggested that the Cuban leader's fate could mirror that of the former Venezuelan leader, while emphasizing that "the noose around Havana is tightening" amid the U.S.'s increasingly tough stance towards the island.
The congressman, representing Florida and one of the staunchest critics of the Cuban regime in the U.S. Congress, drew parallels between the fall of the Venezuelan regime and the potential downfall of Castroism, warning that "the days of impunity are also ending for Havana."
Monday's message was interpreted by many as an indication of a hardening U.S. policy towards Cuba, aligning with the stance of President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who have stressed that the island's regime faces "one last chance to negotiate a peaceful transition."
On social media, hundreds of users reacted with irony or support to Giménez's message. "He's no longer called Díaz-Canel. Now he's called 'Days Numbered,'" wrote one user.
Another summed up the sentiment of many Cubans: "Every dictatorship thinks it is eternal... until its FAFO time arrives."
Implications of U.S. Policy on Cuba
What message did Carlos Giménez send to Lis Cuesta?
Carlos Giménez urged Lis Cuesta, the wife of Miguel Díaz-Canel, to turn him in, suggesting she might not fare well in a federal prison.
How did Giménez relate the situation in Cuba to Venezuela?
Giménez drew parallels between the fall of the Venezuelan regime and the potential end of the Cuban regime, implying that Cuba's days of impunity are numbered.
How did social media react to Giménez's warning?
Social media users responded with both irony and agreement, with some humorously renaming Díaz-Canel as 'Days Numbered.'