One-hundred twenty-four years ago this month, Cuba’s founding generation rose against the Spanish Empire’s subjugation to claim the same birthright American citizens enjoy today: the right of a free people to govern themselves.
“Across generations, the Cuban people have demonstrated an unyielding devotion to the cause of freedom and a resilience of spirit that no regime - past or present - has been able to extinguish,” said President Donald Trump in a message marking Cuban Independence Day.
On May 20, 1902, the Republic of Cuba was established, marking the beginning of self-government for America’s island neighbors. “The Cuban people’s love of liberty, ingenuity, hard work, and great faith in God carried them through the first half of the 20th century - and to this day, these time-honored values continue to live on in their hearts,” noted President Trump.
The current regime in Havana is a betrayal of the Cuban nation the founding patriots bled and died for. “For nearly seven decades, the island’s communist government has violently dismantled political freedom, denied its people fair elections, viciously silenced dissent, and strangled the Cuban economy into a state of collapse,” said President Trump. “While the people suffer, the regime’s kleptocratic elite have hoarded the island’s remaining resources for themselves and their lavish lifestyle.”
Cuba’s military leaders have demonstrated zero care for ensuring the prosperity of the Cuban people, channeling their attention instead only towards maintaining control and exporting communism and despotism abroad.
President Trump declared he is “taking decisive action” to address threats to U.S. national security emanating from the region. “Under my leadership, our nation is severing the financial lifelines that, for too long, have sustained brutal regimes across Central and South America and funded their trans-national criminal and terrorist operations that threaten the United States.”
In January, U.S. armed forces captured and extradited Venezuelan president and narcoterrorist, Nicolas Maduro. “The indictment and removal of Maduro sent a clear message to his socialist allies in Havana,” said President Trump. “This is our hemisphere and those that destabilize it and threaten the United States will face consequences.”
Following the Maduro raid, President Trump enacted new sanctions on Cuba’s military and intelligence apparatus, and those who provide it with material and financial support, depriving the regime of resources and its elites from the opportunity to profit from the people’s suffering.
“My commitment is ironclad,” declared President Trump. “America will not tolerate a rogue state harboring hostile foreign military, intelligence and terror operations just ninety miles from the American homeland, and we will not rest until the people of Cuba once again have the freedom their forefathers fought so valiantly to establish over 100 years ago.”
The United States stands in solidarity with the Cuban people and with the millions of Cuban Americans who have enriched the life of this nation. The United States remembers those who have sacrificed for a free Cuba and looks with confidence toward a new Golden Age for the island and its people.