Republican Congresswoman Maria Elvira Salazar has labeled the Cuban regime as a dictatorship on the brink, following the orchestrated acts of repudiation against U.S. mission chief Mike Hammer during his visit to Camagüey.
In a statement posted on her social media account, the Florida congresswoman declared: "A regime that relies on mobs to sustain itself is in its final stages." She emphasized that the United States will not tolerate the normalization of state terror against an American diplomat. Salazar's words encapsulate her belief in the Cuban system's exhaustion and the failure of its intimidation tactics against diplomats and citizens. This message not only condemns the violence organized by the regime but also underscores her view that power in Havana is in a terminal phase, propped up by repression and propaganda.
Salazar expressed her unwavering support for U.S. diplomat Mike Hammer, denouncing the aggression as a cowardly ambush orchestrated by the Cuban dictatorship. In her view, these so-called acts of repudiation are politically motivated attacks driven by the regime's repressive apparatus, revealing the extent of deterioration of power in Havana, which, she claims, can no longer maintain control without instilling fear through mobilized mobs.
The incident referenced by Salazar took place on Saturday at the Santa María Hotel in Camagüey's Plaza del Gallo, where Mike Hammer was confronted by a crowd mobilized by local authorities. Videos of the event, shared by activists and independent journalists, show participants shouting slogans like "imperialist," "Trump's puppet," and "get out of Camagüey."
During his tour, the U.S. diplomat had been harassed the previous day in Trinidad after meeting with priest and activist José Conrado Rodríguez. Hammer stated that those who insulted him "do not represent the Cuban people" and reiterated that his mission aimed to understand "ordinary Cubans and hear their aspirations for a better Cuba."
Salazar's post is part of a series of messages where she has intensified her criticism of the Cuban regime. Days earlier, she declared that Miguel Díaz-Canel, Raúl Castro, and Bruno Rodríguez "deserve neither attention nor legitimacy," urging the Cuban exile community to take on a historical responsibility in the fight for the island's freedom.
Her message reinforces a firm political stance: to denounce the Castro regime, support those opposing it, and remind that—according to her words—tyrants only survive as long as fear permits.
Maria Elvira Salazar's Perspective on the Cuban Regime
Why does Maria Elvira Salazar believe the Cuban regime is in its final stages?
Salazar argues that a regime dependent on mobs to maintain control is in decline, indicating the Cuban government's inability to sustain itself without repression and propaganda.
What incident is Maria Elvira Salazar referring to in her statement?
She refers to the orchestrated confrontation against U.S. diplomat Mike Hammer in Camagüey, where he was harassed by a mob mobilized by local authorities.
How has Maria Elvira Salazar intensified her criticism of the Cuban regime?
Salazar has intensified her criticism by calling out Cuban leaders and urging the exile community to take historical responsibility in the fight for Cuba's freedom.