Ulises Toirac Criticizes Díaz-Canel Following NBC Interview: "Cubans Don't Want to Live in Cuba"

Cuban comedian Ulises Toirac took to Facebook on Wednesday to share his thoughts on the recent interview given by Miguel Díaz-Canel to NBC's "Meet the Press," which aired last Sunday. His verdict was clear and harsh: Cubans are not interested in staying in Cuba.

Toirac revealed that he had to wait until the early hours of the morning to watch the full interview, taking advantage of a temporary break in the frequent internet blackouts that accompany power outages. He spent his limited data to view the broadcast, highlighting the stark reality faced by ordinary Cubans while their leader appears on American television.

Cubans Voting with Their Feet

According to the actor, the true response to Díaz-Canel's statements on NBC isn't found in his words, but rather in the migration patterns of Cubans: "Migration is not merely an economic or political issue. It's about the perception of the future."

Toirac estimated that 1.25 million Cubans, over 10% of the population, chose to leave between 2021 and 2024. He warned that this number could have been significantly higher if not for U.S. immigration restrictions: "Otherwise, the exodus would have tripled."

Unprecedented Migration Crisis

The comedian described this mass departure as "the worst migration tragedy in Cuban history," noting that its future consequences are "disastrous" and that the data "reflects what Cubans think about the government's management and overall situation."

He also challenged the official narrative blaming the embargo as the sole cause of the crisis. While acknowledging its existence and impact, he posed a critical question to the regime: if the embargo leads to "total suffocation," the government had an "urgent" responsibility to act sooner, "not when we're gasping for air."

Lack of Transparency and Accountability

Toirac highlighted the regime's opacity, pointing out that the true figures of Cuba's economy "have always been kept hidden." He suggested that those in power have long been aware of the nation's trajectory and failed to take action.

Regarding the 33 United Nations votes since 1992 in favor of resolutions against the embargo, he was blunt: "This is obviously not the way." He suggested that efforts should focus on American public opinion rather than international sentiment.

"This is the worst migration tragedy in Cuban history," concluded Ulises. "Its current impact and future consequences are catastrophic, and it clearly reflects what Cubans think about the government's management and the overall situation. Period."

Historic Interview and Its Implications

The interview that prompted his post was recorded on April 9 at the José Martí Memorial in Havana, marking the first appearance of a Cuban leader on "Meet the Press" since Fidel Castro was interviewed 67 years ago.

In the interview, Díaz-Canel dismissed the idea of releasing more than 1,200 political prisoners, refused to hold multiparty elections, and when asked if he would resign to save Cuba, he retorted angrily: "Do you ask that question to Trump? Does that question come from the State Department?"

This isn't the first time Toirac has criticized the government. On April 2, he wrote that "the decisions of this government are what set the economy on fire" and that he didn't believe blaming external forces and waiting for donations would solve the country's structural problems.