Raúl Torres Praises Díaz-Canel's Interview as a "Wall of Dignity"

Cuban troubadour Raúl Torres took to Facebook to share a fervent "prose poem" dedicated to Miguel Díaz-Canel following the Cuban leader's interview with NBC News journalist Kristen Welker. In his post, Torres described each of Díaz-Canel's responses as "another brick in that distinct wall that is not built of hate, but of dignity."

This interview, conducted at Havana's José Martí Memorial, marked the first time a Cuban leader spoke to a U.S. television network since Fidel Castro appeared on the same program back in 1959. The full 53-minute interview was aired on Sunday.

Torres, captivated after watching just one segment released earlier, was moved to pen his patriotic lines praising Díaz-Canel. He was particularly impressed by Díaz-Canel's readiness to sacrifice himself for the revolution, comparing him to iconic figures in Cuba's revolutionary history.

Díaz-Canel's Revolutionary Echoes

In Díaz-Canel's voice—a voice often criticized for its diction issues—Torres heard "a chorus of generations, the rustle of Maceo's machetes, the measured pause of Che Guevara while smoking and contemplating, the quiet storm of Fidel on the podium."

Torres noted that Díaz-Canel dismantled "sharp and tricky questions" with "a calm that is not passive but tempered," akin to "disarming traps designed to catch snakes." Ironically, Torres seemed oblivious to the implication that such traps suggested Díaz-Canel was seen as one of those reptiles.

Unwavering Support for the Regime

"For that transparent simplicity, for that way of looking others in the eye without lowering his head, the empire doesn't know what to do with him. Because you cannot buy someone who is priceless," effused Torres, known for his prolific musical tributes whenever a high-ranking Cuban official dies or when propaganda demands.

This isn't the first time Torres has made headlines with his unwavering support of the regime. In 2021, he released "Patria o Muerte por la Vida," a response to the opposition anthem "Patria y Vida." Google declared it the worst song of that year, with the YouTube video garnering 48,135 dislikes compared to just 4,500 likes, prompting Torres to publicly request more positive feedback.

Torres has consistently aligned himself with the ruling power on the island. In August 2025, he released "Soy por Fidel" to mark the 99th anniversary of the late dictator's birth. Just days prior, he publicly defended singer Israel Rojas with cries of support for the revolution.

"Before the cameras, a man spoke. But he wasn't alone. We were all there. His voice was ours. His defense, that of a history that should not end up in capitalism's trash heap. So be it. Let it continue. Until victory, always," Torres concluded in his social media "poem."

In the poetic realm, the angels of poetry shuddered.