María Teresa Felipe Sosa, also known as Tere Felipe, a Cuban influencer living in Spain who identifies as a "Fidelista-Marxist-Leninist," took to Facebook to express her support for the Cuban regime during the May Day parade of 2026. However, she restricted comments on her post to shield herself from the usual backlash received from fellow Cubans.
In her post, which included an image of the gathering on Havana's Malecón in front of the U.S. Embassy, Felipe stated: "Did anyone expect us to kneel in fear? We are Cubans, surrendering is not in our nature. No fear of the Empire. I fully support the president's words, which as a Cuban, are also my own."
The irony is hard to miss; while she boasts of revolutionary courage from the comfort of Europe, she silences dissenting voices, mirroring the very censorship tactics of the regime she defends.
This isn't Felipe's first brush with controversy. Back in March 2026, she blamed former President Trump for power outages in Cuba, prompting a flood of responses from Cubans who pointed out the hypocrisy of supporting the regime from the safety of Spain.
The comments during that time were pointed. One user remarked, "Tere, why don't you go there and support them? It's easy to open X and write from Spain. Go and creatively resist."
Another added, "Come on, Tere, you could report much better in person."
Rising Tensions Between Cuba and the U.S.
Her recent post comes amidst escalating tensions between Cuba and the United States. The May Day parade in Cuba, which had a distinctly militant tone, was moved from Revolution Square to the Anti-Imperialist Platform in front of the U.S. Embassy.
Raúl Castro, at 94, presided over the event in his first public appearance since December 2025, in an event marking the Year of Preparation for Defense declared by the regime for 2026.
On the same day of the parade, President Donald Trump signed a new executive order expanding sanctions against Cuba, targeting assets of officials and companies involved in repression, energy, defense, and finance sectors.
Just days earlier, on March 28, Trump declared in Miami that "sometimes military force is necessary, and Cuba is next."
Propaganda from Abroad
Felipe's external propaganda tactic is not unique. Figures such as Gerardo Hernández Nordelo, national coordinator of the Committees for the Defense of the Revolution (CDR), took advantage of the blackout in Spain and Portugal to label Europe as a "failed continent," employing a similar propaganda strategy.
The Communist Party of Cuba responded to Trump's threats with the slogan "there will be no surrender in Cuba," a message Tere Felipe echoes from Spain, albeit with comments turned off.
Understanding the Cuban Regime's Supporters Abroad
Why does Tere Felipe limit comments on her posts?
Tere Felipe restricts comments to avoid the backlash and criticism she typically receives from other Cubans for her pro-regime stance.
What was the significance of the May Day parade in Cuba in 2026?
The May Day parade in 2026 in Cuba was marked by a militant tone and was moved to the Anti-Imperialist Platform, highlighting tensions with the U.S.
How has the U.S. responded to the Cuban regime in 2026?
In 2026, the U.S., under President Trump, expanded sanctions against Cuba, targeting officials and companies linked to repression and other key sectors.