As tensions between Cuba and the U.S. remain high, Gubernatorial candidate Byran Donalds appeared on NBC’s Meet the Press Sunday where he explicitly called for regime change for the island nation.
Meet the Press host Kristen Welker fired off questions to Donalds for his takes on Cuba. Donalds said he has no doubt that the time for a full-on change in government and leadership in Cuba should come sooner rather than later. He said Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel has to go.
“I believe there needs to be full-scale regime change in Cuba,” said Donalds. “[Díaz-Canel] is a dictator who wants to have the same deal as the Castro brothers. He wants to be able to rule Cuba with an iron fist and die in office.”
Cubans have had to endure energy blackouts and there have been wide-spread reports of violent unrest. The Cuban government in March acknowledged an islandwide blackout, the most significant consequence yet in an energy crisis since fuel supplies from Venezuela shut off after the arrest of that nation’s President, Nicolás Maduro. That was largely the result of an oil blockade initiated by President Donald Trump.
Just last week, Cuban officials announced they would release 2,010 prisoners. The government said the prisoners affected are foreigners and Cubans, including women, the elderly and young people. It didn’t say when they were being released or under what conditions, nor did it mention the crimes they were accused of committing.
Donalds said Americans are tired of dealing with Cuban antics and it’s only a matter of time before the regime is toppled.
“What the American people need to understand is that Cuba, for 67 years, has been a Communist dictatorship. They have suppressed the free speech of the Cuban people. The Cuban people today are rationing food. Their economy is flat on their back,” Donalds said.
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Material provided by The Associated Press was used in this report.
