A massive billboard featuring the phrase “Wannabe Dictator” alongside President Donald Trump's face was erected on a bustling highway in Miami-Dade this Friday. This public protest, orchestrated by the group “Keep Them Honest”, aims to send a direct message to Trump, who is currently in South Florida. The sign, strategically placed over Freedom Park near the Miami International Airport, is intended for Trump to see when he arrives on Air Force One. "When the president brings Air Force One to our community, he's going to have to see this billboard. I hope he wonders why they're calling me a dictator in Miami-Dade," stated Chris Wills, a spokesperson for the organization.
This action marks the eighth installation of protest billboards by “Keep Them Honest” in the county. As reported by Telemundo 51, the group has previously targeted Republican figures such as Marco Rubio, María Elvira Salazar, Mario Díaz-Balart, and Carlos Giménez, accusing them of supporting—or failing to oppose—Trump’s immigration policies and labeling them as “traitors.”
The unveiling of the billboard coincides with escalating immigration tensions. Just a day prior, President Trump petitioned the Supreme Court to terminate the humanitarian parole program initiated by the Biden administration, which has benefited over 500,000 migrants from Cuba, Venezuela, Haiti, and Nicaragua. Adelys Ferro, an immigrants' rights advocate, believes Trump's goal is to "eliminate all immigration benefits to deport as many people as possible." Ferro participated in a vigil in Doral with TPS and parole beneficiaries, demanding the continuation of these protections. "We are hardworking people who deserve a chance. Many of us have no country to return to," she stated.
The Department of Justice is attempting to overturn a federal judge's decision that restricted the mass elimination of parole, requiring case-by-case assessments instead. The program's future now lies with the Supreme Court.
Controversies Surrounding Political Billboards in Miami
This latest billboard is part of a series of recent advertising controversies in South Florida, where political billboards have sparked protests, divisions, and public demonstrations. In June 2024, a billboard in Miami caused an uproar by displaying the image of Fidel Castro alongside Trump, with the caption "No to dictators. No to Trump." This comparison incited protests from Cuban exiles, who organized vigils and threatened to block the Palmetto Expressway if the advertisement was not removed. The controversy forced authorities to intervene, eventually leading to the billboard's removal. However, Cuban supporters of the Republican also funded another billboard, highlighting the deep polarization among Cuban exiles regarding the U.S. president.
This dynamic underscores an increasingly tense political climate in Miami-Dade County, where outdoor advertising has become a new battleground for ideological conflicts.
Frequently Asked Questions about Miami's Political Billboards
Why was the 'Wannabe Dictator' billboard installed in Miami?
The billboard was installed by the group "Keep Them Honest" as a public protest against President Trump's immigration policies, aiming to send a direct message to him while he is in South Florida.
What has been the reaction to political billboards in Miami?
Political billboards in Miami have sparked significant controversy and division, leading to protests, public demonstrations, and at times, the removal of certain advertisements due to public pressure.
How have Cuban exiles reacted to these billboards?
Cuban exiles have reacted strongly, particularly when billboards compared Trump to Fidel Castro, organizing protests and threatening road closures if controversial advertisements were not removed.