President Biden’s declaration to lift Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism has caused an uproar in Florida, especially among the president’s fellow Democrats.
The rare political unity in the Sunshine State came after Biden on Tuesday certified that the government of President Miguel Diaz-Canel in Havana had “not provided any support for international terrorism” in the past six months. Ta.
Biden’s declaration also assured the United States that Havana would not support terrorism in the future and asserted that the United States would uphold its “core purpose” of “greater freedom and democracy” for the Cuban people.
But Democratic Floridians were outraged by the development.
Rep. Jared Moskowitz of dark blue Broward County told Axios on Tuesday that the outgoing president is doing lasting political damage.
“This is Joe Biden literally sinking the Democratic Party in Florida,” he said. “It’s important.”
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Florida, once the most notable battleground state, rife with ballot dangling chads and the Brooks Brothers Riots of the 2000 election, has seen a significant shift to the right in recent years. There is.
Gov. Ron DeSantis orchestrated the electoral defeat of Republican-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist in 2022, and President-elect Trump shocked the state by flipping Miami-Dade County red in 2024. .
Trump lost Miami-Dade by 30 points in 2020, but won by 11 points in November. The county has a large Latino, especially Cuban-American, population, highlighted by the famous “Little Havana” neighborhood along Route 41.
“Just as we’re trying to plug holes in the boat, Biden is going to plug another hole in the boat,” Moskowitz said.
“Florida is a red state and Biden just waved the white flag of surrender.”
Meanwhile, Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried said she was “disappointed” by the decision.
“We condemn in the strongest terms the removal of Cuba from this list and the potential lifting of economic sanctions, and we call on the Biden administration to immediately reverse course.”
Fried said in a statement that Cuban-Americans in Florida have shared stories of Castro’s oppression for generations, and that Díaz-Canel is the first person to lead Cuba since the overthrow of Fulgencio Batista. He said he was Raul Castro’s “handpicked successor” as a non-Castro. The Castro Brothers in 1959.
Following the change in support for terrorism designation, Havana authorities have reportedly promised to release more than 500 political prisoners, and the Catholic Church has been negotiating their release for some time.
Biden’s press secretary told Axios that the timing was purely coincidental, as the news was announced just before the confirmation hearing for Cuban-American Sen. Marco Rubio to become President Trump’s secretary of state.
Mr. Rubio is one of several South Florida lawmakers and residents whose parents or grandparents fled the communist state.
Rep. Carlos Jimenez, Republican, Florida. Biden, the only Cuban-born member of Congress, called the decision to lift Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism “pathetic cowardice.”
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Jimenez added that Rubio “will crush the team.” [Castro/Diaz-Canel] Government forever. ”
He told Fox News Digital that Biden’s decision was “morally bankrupt” for a malignant administration less than 90 miles from the Monroe County line, where his congressional district is. He said it was a “betrayal”.
Jiménez also warned that the decision ignored Cuba’s friendly relations with the Chinese Communist Party and intelligence sharing with Venezuelan strongman Nicolas Maduro and Nicaraguan leader Daniel Ortega.
” [Cuban] Dictatorships must be confronted and isolated, never appeased. ”
He praised Florida leaders on Biden’s side for speaking out at such a critical time.
Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, whose Miami-Dade district borders Jimenez, said he was “disgusted” by what he called Biden’s “final betrayal of America’s national security interests.” I’m not surprised.”
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President Biden (left) on Tuesday lifted Cuba’s designation as a state sponsor of terrorism, saying the administration of President Miguel Díaz-Canel (right) has “not provided any support for international terrorism” over the past six months.
Several Florida Democrats have defected from the party in recent weeks, praising Trump as Moskowitz and other Democrats warn of the damage that moves like removing Cuba from its designation as a state sponsor of terrorism could do to the party. are.
Maureen Porras, vice mayor of Doral, Florida (a fashionable Miami suburb where President Trump owns a golf club and resort), said her former party “prioritised minority voices” and “disappointed our community.” It fails to address the real issues that impact it,” he told The Floridian. . ”
Meanwhile, state Rep. Susan Valdez of Tampa and state Rep. Hilary Cassel of Hallandale Beach, Fla., recently changed their affiliation from Democratic to Republican.
Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital.
He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant.
Charles covers media, politics and culture for Fox News Digital.
Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduate of Temple University with a bachelor’s degree in broadcast journalism. Story tips can be sent to charles.creitz@fox.com.
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