A social media post from President Donald Trump about Cuba is drawing attention in South Florida and raising questions about how it could affect Republican political campaigns ahead of the midterm elections.
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In a post published shortly before 8 a.m., Trump wrote: “No Republican has ever spoken to me about Cuba, which is a failed country and only heading in one direction – down! Cuba is asking for help, and we are going to talk!!!”
The statement immediately generated reaction because several high-profile Republican leaders tied to Cuba policy are based in South Florida, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Cuban-American Republican members of Congress Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Gimenez and Maria Elvira Salazar.
NBC6 political analyst Alex Penelas said the president’s comments could complicate the political messaging of South Florida Republicans.
“Without a doubt this statement by the president has the potential to complicate the re-election bids of the Cuban-American Republican congresspeople here in South Florida,” Penelas said.
Penelas noted that many Cuban-American Republican voters remain skeptical of any negotiations with the Cuban government that focus primarily on economic issues rather than political change on the island.
He also pointed to the president’s assertion that no Republican had spoken to him about Cuba as a potentially sensitive political issue.
“That could result in some backlash in the upcoming midterm elections especially, for example, Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar, who is being seriously challenged by Elliott Rodriguez,” Penelas said.
By midday, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar was the only South Florida Republican member of Congress to publicly respond to Trump’s remarks.
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On social media, Salazar said: “Republicans know you are the only person who will be able to free Cuba after 67 years of oppression, and we Republicans in South Florida are supporting you and waiting for you to take the necessary action. There is nothing else to say or discuss.”
Salazar appeared to reference the second part of Trump’s post, where the president wrote that Cuba is “asking for help” and that “we are going to talk.”
For years, Cuban-American Republicans in South Florida have largely opposed direct negotiations with the Cuban government.
Meanwhile, in Washington, Rep. Mario Díaz-Balart questioned Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing about whether Cuba poses a national security threat to the United States.
“Do you believe that the Cuban regime possesses a national security threat to the United States?” Díaz-Balart asked.
“I do,” Hegseth responded.
The comments come one day after NBC News published exclusive reporting that Trump has grown frustrated that longstanding U.S. sanctions and pressure campaigns against Cuba have not produced significant political changes on the island.
Cuban officials also responded forcefully on Tuesday. A Cuban minister accused the United States of carrying out “economic aggression” against the island and called U.S. sanctions “vicious and cruel.”
The minister also said Cuba maintains a “firm commitment to self-defense,” amid escalating rhetoric surrounding U.S.-Cuba relations.
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