ElToque Responds with Sarcasm to Regime Spokesperson Humberto López's Allegations

Humberto López, a spokesperson for the Cuban regime, reignited his media offensive against the independent outlet elToque, accusing it on Tuesday's episode of his show Razones de Cuba of being part of an alleged "comprehensive economic warfare program" financed by the United States. According to López, this program aims to manipulate the informal exchange rate of currency and "destabilize the national economy."

The response from elToque was swift and unmistakably humorous.

Using irony and a touch of sarcasm, the outlet dismantled the official spokesperson's allegations and openly mocked the regime's propagandistic narrative.

ElToque's Retort: Irony as an Answer to Propaganda

In a piece titled "Immediate Reflections," published shortly after the program aired, elToque responded with a series of sharp and mocking statements that quickly went viral.

"There is more rationality in those who believe the Earth is flat than in those who place blind faith in Humberto López and the Cuban National Television News," they asserted.

This opening line set the tone for their reply: straightforward, ironic, and defiant.

They further reflected on the futile dialogue between independent press and state propaganda:

"Debating with irrational people is futile: where one presents arguments, they only see excuses."

In their conclusion, elToque ridiculed the notion that the outlet is responsible for the country's ills, using a metaphor that highlights the collective self-deception promoted by the regime's propaganda:

"If, after watching another episode of a show depicting a country that doesn't exist, you choose to believe that elToque and its creators are the source of all your problems, go ahead. Walk to the edge of that 'plate' you think is the planet. When you get there, feel whatever you want or imagine you should feel. But know this, your emotions won't change two facts: the Earth is spherical, and the elephant will still be there, in the middle of your room."

They concluded with a brief yet bold message: "Tomorrow, we dedicate another moment to you."

The response was celebrated on social media by hundreds of users, both inside and outside of Cuba, who saw in elToque's ironic tone a form of resistance against fear and official misinformation.

The Root of the Attack: A Regime Seeking External Scapegoats

The statement from elToque was a direct reaction to the latest smear campaign driven by Cuban state propaganda.

In the show Razones de Cuba, Humberto López claimed that the independent outlet uses "U.S. taxpayer funds" to manipulate the informal currency market and destabilize the country's economic stability.

According to the regime's spokesperson, elToque's daily publication of the informal exchange rates of the Cuban peso against the dollar, the euro, and the MLC is part of an "economic terrorism" operation designed to create "financial panic" and "depress the population's income."

The speech, however, offered no verifiable evidence.

Instead, it reiterated an argument previously made by Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez at the UN, who claimed there is an "organized and funded operation by Washington to provoke Cuba's economic collapse."

On the television program, López even denied orchestrating a discrediting campaign, although his own rhetoric immediately contradicted him by stating:

"What worries El Toque is that Cubans stop considering them a reference, that we don't look at them as the exchange rate. They worry about losing credibility and that we organize with a transformative project to throw them away."

Following the airing of the program, major state media outlets repeated the attack.

Granma published an article titled "El Toque Acts Against the Well-Being of the Cuban People," while Cubadebate released another under the headline "El Toque: From Economic Terrorism to Currency Trafficking."

Crisis, Censorship, and the Fear of Transparency

This media offensive occurs at a time when Cuba is experiencing an unprecedented economic and social crisis, marked by inflation, shortages, and the collapse of basic services.

Unable to resolve the economic disaster created by the regime itself, the official strategy is to blame external and independent actors, especially the media that manage to expose the reality the state tries to hide.

In this context, elToque has established itself as one of the few reliable sources on the real value of the Cuban peso, explaining the regime's efforts to discredit it.

ElToque is preparing for a potential blockade. In response to the increasing hostility, the outlet has warned its readers about the possibility of the government blocking its website within the island. In a Facebook post this Thursday, elToque advised:

"The Cuban government could block elTOQUE's website. In light of this possibility, and if you don't want to miss any of our content, we have alternatives that may be useful."

The outlet offered links to download its mobile apps and follow its social media channels.

The regime's renewed assault on elToque demonstrates its fear of transparency and independent information. Far from yielding to pressure, the outlet responded with humor and dignity, reminding everyone that truth cannot be censored, even if the regime tries to silence it.