Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel attempted to counter Donald Trump's address to the United Nations General Assembly this Wednesday. However, his social media post quickly became a source of ridicule among Cubans due to a glaring spelling error: he wrote "anaquilamiento" instead of the correct "aniquilamiento."
The Cuban leader shared his message on platforms like Facebook and X, stating: "Rarely has the United Nations General Assembly been so disrespected. Founded eight decades ago to ensure diplomacy prevented new wars, it was used as an imperial platform to threaten the destruction of other nations. #CubaIsNotAThreat, but the blockade is."
This message was a direct reaction to Trump's speech delivered the previous day at the 81st General Assembly, where he branded Cuba as a "completely failed state" and predicted the regime's downfall.
During the same address, Trump also threatened to "annihilate" Iran if a nuclear deal wasn't reached, a phrase that received widespread international coverage and appeared to influence Díaz-Canel's remarks about threats to other nations.
Díaz-Canel's Embarrassing Mistake Overshadows Diplomatic Protest
The Cuban delegation at the UN walked out during Trump's speech as a protest, choosing not to exercise their right of reply. Yet, the spotlight on Wednesday was not on this diplomatic gesture but rather on Díaz-Canel's spelling blunder.
In the comments section of his Facebook post, one user bluntly pointed out, "I don't think 'anaquilamiento' is the right word, but what can we expect from the man of utopia, hahaha."
Another commenter added sarcastically, "They're not just threatening you; they're warning you, so better start running."
A third commentator seized the opportunity to question the regime's legitimacy, saying, "The concept of sovereignty has several components, one being: Popular Sovereignty: The principle where power resides in the citizens who choose how to govern themselves. Does this exist in Cuba?"
Cuba's official response to the UN General Assembly was scheduled for September 26, when the regime would have the chance to address Trump's remarks formally.
Key Points About Díaz-Canel's UN Response
What mistake did Díaz-Canel make in his social media post?
Díaz-Canel misspelled the word "annihilation" as "anaquilamiento," which led to ridicule from Cubans.
What was Trump's stance on Cuba during the UN General Assembly?
Trump described Cuba as a "completely failed state" and predicted that the regime would eventually collapse.
How did the Cuban delegation react to Trump's UN speech?
The Cuban delegation walked out of the assembly hall in protest during Trump's speech.