The social media landscape lit up with criticism from Cubans directed at Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg after she released a video accusing Donald Trump of exacerbating the crisis in Cuba and calling for international solidarity with the Cuban government.
In her message, shared by CiberCuba on Instagram, the young activist claimed that the United States is carrying out "a brutal act of collective punishment against the Cuban people," holding the Trump administration accountable for the blackouts and shortages plaguing the country.
Immediate Cuban Reaction
Thunberg's statement sparked an immediate backlash from numerous Cubans who accused her of ignoring—or overlooking—the political reality on the Island.
Many reminded her that her video fails to mention the existence of a single-party system controlled by the Communist Party, nor does it address political prisoners, the repression of demonstrations, or the absence of free elections for decades.
"Get Educated"
Among the recurring comments was a direct critique of the activist's apparent lack of understanding regarding the Cuban situation.
"Greta, you're way off. Get educated," one user commented.
Another person reacted with similar firmness: "No, Greta, you missed the mark this time."
These remarks reflect a clear frustration among Cubans who feel that the activist is merely echoing the regime's narrative, which focuses solely on blaming the U.S. embargo for all the country's problems.
For many citizens, both inside and outside Cuba, this explanation ignores decades of economic mismanagement, political control, and repression.
"Come Live Here"
Several users sarcastically invited Thunberg to experience everyday life in Cuba before making judgments.
"Come to Cuba for a few days to understand what it's like living under a dictatorship," one wrote.
Another comment was even more direct: "I invite you to live among ordinary people in Cuba for a few months and then make another video."
Some users even suggested specific neighborhoods in Havana, known for their economic hardships.
"Come for a few days, Gretica… to Luyanó or Old Havana!" one user suggested.
Sarcasm and Mockery
The replies were not without a dose of sarcasm.
One netizen mocked the distance between the activist's life in Europe and the reality for Cubans: "She says this from the comfort of her home in Sweden, haha."
Another user expressed frustration: "The last thing we needed was this circus. It's inadmissible that we're being used like this. Mother of God, ignorance is bold."
More mocking comments followed, like one user who wrote: "What's the little pumpkin saying at 8:00 pm? Go to sleep, kid."
Beyond the tone, the majority of responses shared a central idea: Cubans feel their situation is being interpreted from afar without taking into account the complexity of their lived reality.
Thunberg's Message
In the video, Thunberg claims that the tightening of the embargo by the United States is "deliberately strangling the Cuban people."
The activist also highlighted the power outages affecting the island, arguing that they result directly from economic sanctions.
Additionally, she called for international support for the so-called "Convoy Nuestra América," an initiative aiming to deliver humanitarian aid to Havana on March 21.
The young activist also praised Cuba's medical missions abroad, closing her message with the slogan "Cuba sí, bloqueo no!"
However, her intervention has been criticized for focusing exclusively on U.S. foreign policy without mentioning the structural problems of the Cuban political system.
A Response from the Cuban Community
The reaction to Thunberg's words extended beyond social media comments.
A Cuban, identified as Kiele, recently posted a video on Instagram directly responding to the Swedish activist.
The clip, which garnered tens of thousands of views in just a few days, challenges the arguments of the original message and urges Thunberg to better inform herself about the real situation in the country.
"What we need to talk about is how you, Greta, need to educate yourself on what's truly happening in Cuba," Kiele states.
The video emerged following Thunberg's previous declaration supporting the international convoy set to arrive in Havana on March 21.
A Broader Conflict
The exchange between the Swedish activist and numerous Cubans on social media highlights a deeper debate.
On one side, international campaigns denounce the impact of U.S. sanctions on the island's economy.
For Cubans, these campaigns often omit fundamental aspects of the country's internal situation, such as the lack of political freedoms, the repression of protests, and the sustained deterioration of living conditions.
The reaction to Thunberg's video reflects precisely this tension: the rejection by those who feel their reality is being simplified—or reinterpreted—from outside.
Understanding the Cuban Perspective on Greta Thunberg's Comments
Why did Greta Thunberg's video provoke such a strong reaction from Cubans?
Cubans felt that Thunberg's message oversimplified the complex reality of their situation by blaming U.S. sanctions exclusively, without acknowledging the internal political and economic issues caused by their government.
What central point did most Cuban commenters agree on?
Most Cuban commenters agreed that their situation is often misrepresented or simplified by those outside of Cuba, without proper understanding of the political complexities and hardships they face.
What did some Cubans suggest Greta Thunberg do?
Some Cubans sarcastically suggested that Thunberg should live in Cuba for a while to gain firsthand experience of the challenges they face under the current regime.