Democratic Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal recently posted a video on X following her five-day trip to Cuba, where she described her visit to a neonatal intensive care unit at a maternity hospital. She likened the Trump administration's energy sanctions to a bombing of the island's infrastructure.
Jayapal, who represents Washington, traveled alongside Congressman Jonathan Jackson from Illinois during the House of Representatives' recess. This marked the first documented visit by U.S. lawmakers to Cuba in 2026.
"What broke my heart the most was visiting the maternity hospital and entering the neonatal intensive care unit to see the low birth weight and premature babies in incubators," the congresswoman stated in the video, which was part of her comments to the pro-regime Cuban media outlet Belly of the Beast.
Backlash from Cuban Civil Society
The visit has sparked criticism from Cuban civil society, who accuse these politicians of whitewashing the regime's human rights abuses and exploiting the Cuban people for political gain.
"Did these Democratic congresspeople visit Díaz-Canel? Did they ask for the freedom of that imprisoned CHILD in Ciego de Ávila? No. The visit was to whitewash the dictatorship and blame Trump. Just more people playing along with the circus. We will remember who stands with the Cuban people and who serves the dictators," stated journalist Mario J. Pentón, referring to the recent imprisonment of minor Jonathan Muir.
Journalist José Raúl Gallego also criticized, "Was there a blackout in the hotel where they stayed? Probably not. Did they visit the prisons or the families of political prisoners? Probably not, because they weren't interested."
Condemnation of Energy Sanctions
In an official statement, Jayapal and Jackson condemned the oil restrictions imposed by the Trump administration, which aimed to prevent a single drop of oil from reaching Cuba. According to the legislators, this was equivalent to a direct attack on the country's civilian infrastructure.
The energy sanctions reportedly reduced Cuba's crude oil imports by between 80% and 90%, exacerbating an already severe crisis affecting hospitals, transportation, and essential services.
During their stay, the congresspeople met with representatives of the Cuban regime. Miguel Díaz-Canel hosted them, using the opportunity to denounce the "criminal damage" of the embargo—a meeting that drew criticism from Cuban activists and opposition figures.
Questions About U.S. Lawmakers' Visit to Cuba
Why did Congresswoman Jayapal visit Cuba?
Congresswoman Jayapal visited Cuba to observe the impact of U.S. sanctions and to meet with Cuban officials. Her visit included a tour of a neonatal intensive care unit, where she highlighted the challenges faced by premature babies due to energy shortages.
What criticisms did the visit receive?
The visit was criticized for allegedly whitewashing the Cuban regime's human rights abuses and for not addressing the plight of political prisoners. Critics argue that the visit served more to criticize U.S. sanctions than to support the Cuban people.