Former President Donald Trump signaled on Friday that Cuba’s communist regime could “be changed” under his administration.
Following rare public demonstrations that erupted late on Sunday, President Trump expressed solidarity with the people of Cuba who have been protesting against the “vile communist regime.”
“I want to express my admiration and support for all of the brave people of Cuba who are standing up against the vile communist regime,” he said in a video posted on Truth Social.
“It’s not easy, and we appreciate it—and it’s going to be changed,” he declared.
Facing a deepening food crisis, hundreds of Cubans, led by parents, took to the streets on Sunday, to voice their frustrations over power cuts lasting up to 18 hours per day, making it nearly impossible to preserve food.
The demonstrations marked a significant display of discontent against Cuba’s regime. Social media posts showed people chanting “electricity and food” during protests in Santiago.
President Trump highlighted the hardships faced by the Cuban populace under the regime’s “corrupt dictators.”
“Under Cuba’s brutal and corrupt dictators, the Cuban people are suffering terrible food shortages, energy blackouts, poverty, political repression, and religious persecution,” President Trump said.
“I want the people of Cuba to know that we are watching what is happening in Santiago very closely. We are with you,” he asserted.
President Trump stressed his administration’s commitment to supporting the Cuban people and condemned the actions of the communist leadership.
“Under my administration, we will return to being very strong on the oppressors,” he said.
The Republican presidential nominee drew a sharp contrast between his approach and that of President Joe Biden, a Democrat, accusing the current administration of being “very weak on the communists.”
“Unlike crooked Joe Biden, who has been very weak on the communists, I stand with the Cuban people,” President Trump declared. “He does not stand with them. He doesn’t care about them. He couldn’t care less.”
The Epoch Times contacted the White House for comment.
The former president echoed the calls for the release of political prisoners in Cuba and emphasized the necessity of free and fair elections in the country.
“You have to have free and fair elections. Our country has some problems with that also, by the way,” he remarked, alluding to the 2020 U.S. presidential elections, which he challenged.
“Most of all, I share your vision for a Cuba that is safe, prosperous, and free. God bless the Cuban people and God bless America,” President Trump said.
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel acknowledged the protests and called for “dialogue” with the people.
“Several people have expressed their dissatisfaction with the situation of electrical service and food distribution,” Mr. Díaz-Canel stated on X, formerly Twitter.
“The disposition of the authorities of the Party, the State, and the Government is to attend to the complaints of our people, listen, dialogue, explain the numerous efforts being made to improve the situation, always in an atmosphere of tranquility,” he added.
Mr. Díaz-Canel also warned that “the enemies of the Revolution” are seeking to exploit the situation “for destabilizing purposes.”
The U.S. Embassy in Havana urged Cuba’s communist regime to respect the human rights of protestors and address the legitimate needs of the Cuban people.
“We urge the Cuban government to respect the human rights of the protestors and address the legitimate needs of the Cuban people,” the embassy stated on X on Sunday.
The Cuban government summoned U.S. Ambassador Benjamin Ziff to its foreign ministry, accusing Washington of fueling the unrest, particularly in Santiago de Cuba, where hundreds took to the streets.
Cuba has fallen into a near-unprecedented economic crisis since the COVID-19 pandemic, with vast shortages of food, fuel, and medicine stoking a record-breaking exodus that has seen upward of 400,000 people migrate to the United States.
The challenges have been compounded by soaring inflation. State-run bodegas, which typically provide rations, are increasingly empty. Small, privately-owned shops have been popping up in response across the island in an attempt to alleviate shortages.
Protests on the island are exceedingly rare and have become more frequent in recent years due to the ongoing economic crisis.
Aldgra Fredly contributed to this report.
