Marxlenin Pérez Valdés, a pro-government television host and wife of Fidel Castro's grandson, voiced her disapproval on Thursday regarding President Donald Trump's recent executive measures. These measures, declaring a national emergency, label the Cuban government as a threat to U.S. security and foreign policy.
In a Facebook post, Pérez Valdés dismissed the decision as “the latest theatrics against our country,” summarizing it in “three points.”
“They claim we are a threat to the national security of the United States, using the specter of communism as a justification,” she remarked, referring to the White House statement accusing the Cuban regime of spreading communist ideas and practices across the Western Hemisphere, thereby threatening U.S. foreign policy.
The host mocked the announcement, adding, “It's nothing new, but it's a bit old-fashioned. Either they have an inferiority complex, or we are too modest: they say they're in danger—a national emergency because of us.”
She also touched on the potential economic impact of these measures: “Since we are such a 'great threat' and they 'want to help our people,' they will exponentially increase the economic, commercial, and financial blockade,” she wrote, asserting that this policy “has already been tried with Brazil, Mexico, India, China, Russia, Canada, and many other countries worldwide.”
In her post, she mentioned the sanctions' start date: “They say the sanction will take effect at midnight on 01/30 and that ‘we will not be able to survive.’”
Pérez Valdés concluded her message with a pointed critique of the U.S. president: “The visceral hatred of the emperor who despises us knows no bounds. His limits are neither ethical nor moral, as he lacks ethics and morals. His motivation is purely capitalist and fascist interests, it's all the same.” She ended with the slogan “Patria o muerte! Venceremos!” alongside the Cuban flag.
These comments follow Donald Trump’s executive order signed on January 29, declaring a national emergency and authorizing the U.S. government to impose tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba. The document claims that Havana's regime aligns with hostile nations and groups, including Russia, China, Iran, Hamas, and Hezbollah, and “maintains the largest Russian intelligence base outside that country.”
Pérez Valdés, who holds a doctorate in Philosophical Sciences and teaches Marxism at the University of Havana, hosts the state program “Cuadrando la Caja.” She is married to Fidel Castro Smirnov, the grandson of the late dictator Fidel Castro Ruz and son of his firstborn, Fidel Ángel Castro Díaz-Balart. Known for her outspoken admiration for Miguel Díaz-Canel and Lis Cuesta, she has been involved in several controversies for defending official statements on the food crisis and speaking derisively about regime critics.
Her latest message continues the Cuban government's narrative that blames the United States for the country's economic collapse.
Trump's executive order is part of a broader strategy to cut energy supplies to the island and exert economic pressure on Miguel Díaz-Canel's government. In addition to declaring a national emergency, the decree allows for tariffs on goods from countries that sell or supply oil to Cuba, aiming to reduce the influx of Venezuelan crude and limit the regime's revenue sources.
According to the White House, the policy aims to “protect U.S. national security and interests,” while reaffirming the commitment to the “aspirations of the Cuban people for a free and democratic society.”
Understanding U.S. Measures Against Cuba
What prompted the U.S. to declare a national emergency concerning Cuba?
The U.S. declared a national emergency, viewing the Cuban government as a threat to its security and foreign policy due to the regime's alignment with hostile nations and the spread of communist ideologies.
How does the executive order affect Cuba economically?
The executive order allows the U.S. to impose tariffs on countries supplying oil to Cuba, aiming to reduce energy supplies and limit the Cuban government's revenue streams.
Who is Marxlenin Pérez Valdés?
Marxlenin Pérez Valdés is a pro-government TV host in Cuba, married to Fidel Castro's grandson. She is known for her critical stance against U.S. policies towards Cuba.