Meet the Press April 12 — Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, Rep. Byron Donalds and Rep. Pramila Jayapal
Apr 12, 2026
Miguel Díaz-Canel, President of Cuba, defends his government and rejects U.S. demands. Byron Donalds, Republican congressman from Florida, presses for tougher measures and regime change. They debate U.S. pressure, the embargo, political prisoners, diplomatic options with Cuba and Iran, and the geopolitical risks of confrontation.
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Crisis Attributed To Intensified U.S. Blockade
- Miguel Díaz-Canel frames Cuba's crisis as the cumulative effect of a decades-long U.S. blockade intensified in 2019, not solely domestic failures.
- He cites 240 new U.S. measures, loss of financing for food, medicine, and energy repairs, and an ‘‘energy blockade’’ that deepened shortages.
Defense Posture Presented As Deterrence Not Aggression
- Díaz-Canel insists Cuba's defense posture is strictly defensive and meant to deter aggression, not to threaten the U.S.
- He says preparing for defense is the best way to avoid war and preserve peace given external threats.
Political Reforms Framed As Nonnegotiable Sovereignty
- Díaz-Canel rejects U.S. demands that touch Cuba's constitutional order, saying political-system questions are non-negotiable.
- He emphasizes Cuba's internal electoral process and grassroots selection as legitimizing leadership.