The official White House account on X unveiled a cinematic-style image on Wednesday, labeled "ENEMIES OF AMERICA – NEUTRALIZED, by President Donald J. Trump," along with the declaration "Justice will be served." The image prominently features Raúl Castro alongside three other leaders identified as "neutralized enemies" of the United States.
This poster, adorned with the official White House logo, displays four figures tagged with red labels: Nicolás Maduro as "ARRESTED," Ali Jamenei as "KILLED," Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki as "KILLED," and Castro as "INDICTED."
The release came just a day after the Department of Justice declassified a superseding indictment against Raúl Castro, approved by a grand jury in the Southern District of Florida on April 23 and made public on May 20.
The charges against the 94-year-old Castro relate to the downing of two civilian aircraft belonging to the organization Brothers to the Rescue on February 24, 1996, over international waters in the Florida Straits.
This attack, carried out by MiG fighters from the Cuban Revolutionary Air Force, resulted in the deaths of four Cuban-Americans: Armando Alejandre Jr., Carlos Costa, Mario de la Peña, and Pablo Morales.
The indictment includes charges of conspiracy to commit murder against U.S. citizens, destruction of civilian aircraft, and four counts of homicide.
In addition to Castro, five Cuban military officers were indicted: Emilio José Palacio Blanco, José Fidel Gual Barzaga, Raúl Simanca Cárdenas, Luis Raúl González-Pardo Rodríguez, and Lorenzo Alberto Pérez-Pérez.
A key piece of evidence cited in the indictment is a recording from June 1996, where Raúl Castro is heard saying, "Well, shoot them down over the sea when they show up..."
The Cuban regime responded with outright rejection. Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez dismissed the accusation as a "farce," while Miguel Díaz-Canel defended the former leader, proclaiming, "To me, Raúl Castro has been a mentor."
This maneuver is mainly symbolic, as there is no extradition treaty between Cuba and the United States, and Castro has not set foot on U.S. soil.
The White House poster visually encapsulates four significant events from Trump's foreign policy: Maduro was captured by U.S. forces in Venezuela on January 3, 2026; Jamenei was killed in a joint U.S.-Israel airstrike on February 28, 2026; and Abu-Bilal Al-Minuki, ISIS leader in Africa, was eliminated in a joint operation with Nigeria last Friday.
Castro is uniquely labeled as "INDICTED" rather than "ARRESTED" or "KILLED," serving as a symbolic pressure point against Havana utilized by the Trump administration.
This publication aligns with a series of provocations from the administration towards Cuba: On May 2, Trump declared that the United States "will take Cuba almost immediately" and signed a new executive order tightening sanctions. On May 16, he posted on Truth Social with the words "Fire. Boom." interpreted as direct warnings to the regime.
The Brothers to the Rescue case remained legally unresolved for three decades, since President Bill Clinton condemned the attack in 1996 but did not pursue individual criminal charges against those responsible.
Key Questions about Raúl Castro's Indictment and U.S.-Cuba Relations
What charges have been brought against Raúl Castro?
Raúl Castro faces charges of conspiracy to murder U.S. citizens, destruction of civilian aircraft, and four counts of homicide related to the 1996 downing of two Brothers to the Rescue planes.
Why is the indictment of Raúl Castro largely symbolic?
The indictment is symbolic because there is no extradition treaty between Cuba and the United States, and Castro has not entered U.S. territory, making it unlikely he will face trial in the U.S.
How did the Cuban government react to the indictment?
The Cuban government rejected the indictment, with Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez dismissing it as a "farce" and Miguel Díaz-Canel defending Raúl Castro as a mentor.
What historical event is connected to the charges against Raúl Castro?
The charges are linked to the 1996 incident where Cuban MiG fighters shot down two Brothers to the Rescue planes, resulting in the deaths of four Cuban-Americans over the Florida Straits.