On Tuesday, Miguel Díaz-Canel took to Facebook to respond to the U.S. State Department's report on Cuba, accusing the Trump administration of employing 'transnational neo-McCarthyism' to "restrict civil liberties in the U.S." while justifying acts of aggression against the island nation.
His post followed closely on the heels of Secretary of State Marco Rubio's social media release of a report titled "Cuba: The Capital of 21st Century Communism." This document, spanning roughly 100 pages, accuses Havana of nearly seventy years of espionage, infiltration into elite universities, and support for radical groups within the U.S.
Counter-Accusations Against U.S. Policies
Díaz-Canel began his message with the saying, "The thief believes everyone else is a thief," launching a direct attack on Rubio, whom he labeled "one of the most corrupt officials of the current administration, with proven links to drug traffickers and terrorists in Florida."
He flipped the report's allegations, branding Washington as the true aggressor. "If any country has spied on and attacked another to obscene levels, it has been the U.S. against Cuba," Díaz-Canel asserted.
Historical Tensions Highlighted
He supported this claim by listing several historical events attributed to the U.S.: "plagues and diseases introduced in Cuba, the hemorrhagic dengue outbreak that claimed the lives of 101 children; the downing of an aircraft with 73 people on board; bombings in hotels; assassination attempts; and psychological warfare."
Regarding the U.S. embargo—referred to by the regime as a "blockade"—Díaz-Canel stated it has gained a "genocidal dimension" with current reinforcements and the "energy siege." He described it as "the greatest act of subversion against a state, officially designed by the U.S. to exhaust the populace and undermine their support for the Revolution."
Political Rhetoric and Reality
The core of his post revolves around the accusation that "transnational neo-McCarthyism being reinstated in the U.S., from a clearly fascist current, resorts to lies to create pretexts for aggression against Cuba and to curtail civil liberties in the U.S."
Díaz-Canel concluded by asserting, "Cuba has never acted to harm the American people or aimed to threaten the national security of the U.S."
His rhetoric stands in stark contrast to the documented realities within Cuba: human rights organizations report over 1,200 political prisoners in Cuba in 2026, and the country ranks 165th out of 180 in the Reporters Without Borders press freedom index.
Escalating Rhetoric
This statement is part of a sustained increase in rhetorical aggression. On July 17, Díaz-Canel likened Trump's policies to "Hitlerian fascism" and Operation Condor; in May, he called the administration a "fascist government"; and in March, he spoke of the "resurgence of fascism" attributed to Washington.
Rubio's report represents the latest step in a maximum pressure policy initiated on January 20, 2025, when Trump re-added Cuba to the list of state sponsors of terrorism on his first day as president. This policy has resulted in over 240 sanctions against the island since then, including direct sanctions against Díaz-Canel and his wife, Lis Cuesta Peraza, in June 2026.
Understanding U.S.-Cuba Relations
What accusations did Díaz-Canel make against the U.S.?
Díaz-Canel accused the U.S. of employing 'transnational neo-McCarthyism' to restrict civil liberties and justify aggression against Cuba. He also reversed allegations of espionage and aggression, pointing to numerous historical incidents he attributes to the U.S.
What was the content of the report released by Marco Rubio?
Marco Rubio's report, titled "Cuba: The Capital of 21st Century Communism," accuses Cuba of extensive espionage, infiltration into U.S. universities, and supporting radical groups within the United States.
How does Díaz-Canel view the U.S. embargo on Cuba?
Díaz-Canel describes the U.S. embargo, referred to as a "blockade" by the Cuban regime, as having a "genocidal dimension" due to its current intensification and energy restrictions, viewing it as the largest act of subversion against a state.