Sandro Castro, the grandson of Fidel Castro and a social media influencer with a following surpassing 150,000 on Instagram, recently took a jab at Cuban troubadour Silvio Rodríguez. In a sarcastic tone, he referred to the presence of a "dinosaur" in Cuba wielding an AK47 and singing, directly alluding to the controversial incident where the regime handed the 79-year-old songwriter an actual AKM rifle.
These remarks were shared by Sandro on his Instagram story this past Friday. The saga that sparked this satire began on March 18 when Silvio Rodríguez wrote on his blog, Segunda Cita, "I demand my AKM, if they launch. And note that I say this very seriously," in response to President Donald Trump's statements labeling Cuba a "failed nation" and expressing it would be "a great honor" to take over the island.
The Cuban regime didn't delay in fulfilling the singer's request. On March 20, during the National Defense Day, General Álvaro López Miera of the Revolutionary Armed Forces presented Silvio Rodríguez with both a real AKM rifle and a symbolic replica at the Ministry of the Armed Forces' Granma Hall, in a ceremony led by Miguel Díaz-Canel.
The state-run media outlet Cubadebate clarified that the Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces awarded the musician "a replica of the AKM rifle and his combat rifle in fulfillment of his noble and revolutionary demand." Upon presenting the certificate, General López Miera emphasized, "This is purely symbolic."
The following day, Major General Víctor Leonardo Rojo Ramos, head of the Armed Forces' Political Directorate, sought to position the gesture as cultural and political resistance against U.S. threats, dismissing the notion of it being a call to war.
Wave of Criticism and Backlash
The incident triggered widespread criticism on social media, with many Cubans highlighting the stark contrast between the regime's militaristic rhetoric and the severe economic crisis, power outages, and shortages plaguing the nation.
Cuban artist Gessliam Suárez was notably vocal, accusing Silvio Rodríguez of "breathing life into the corpse that is the Cuban revolution" by accepting the rifle.
In this context, Sandro Castro's description aligns with his signature generational satire: the term "dinosaur" is frequently employed by regime critics to describe revolutionary figures perceived as outdated and clinging to their privileges.
Sandro Castro, at 33, and son of photographer Alexis Castro, has been at the center of several viral moments in March 2026, including a leaked video featuring a Trump impersonator, mocking the "rusty" ship from Mexico's solidarity convoy, and a spat with Gerardo Hernández over tricycle usage on social media.
On March 22, The New York Times spotlighted him in an extensive profile as Fidel Castro's grandson turned influencer, amplifying his international visibility amid escalating tensions between Cuba and the United States.
Meanwhile, Silvio Rodríguez has faced mounting criticism in recent years for his allegiance to the regime. In October 2025, he declared that he has "never been disillusioned with the Revolution," and in February 2026, he remarked that Cuba "has always been in crisis," comments that further estranged a significant portion of the Cuban public.
Understanding the Controversy Surrounding Silvio Rodríguez and the AK47
Why did Silvio Rodríguez receive an AKM rifle?
Silvio Rodríguez received an AKM rifle as a symbolic gesture from the Cuban regime in response to his blog post demanding the weapon, following comments made by President Trump about Cuba.
What was the public reaction to Silvio Rodríguez receiving the rifle?
The public reaction was largely critical, with many pointing out the irony of the militaristic gesture amid Cuba's ongoing economic hardships. Some saw it as a reinforcement of outdated revolutionary ideals.
How did Sandro Castro criticize Silvio Rodríguez?
Sandro Castro criticized Silvio Rodríguez through a sarcastic Instagram story, depicting him as a "dinosaur" with an AK47, poking fun at the regime's outdated practices and the artist's involvement.