Rep. María Elvira Salazar, a U.S. Representative from Florida, posted a series of statements on her Twitter account on May 7 and 8, 2026, addressing recent U.S. sanctions on Cuba and expressing support for military families.
On May 7, Salazar publicly supported actions taken by President Joe Biden and Secretary Marco Rubio against the Cuban government. She wrote, “I commend @POTUS and @SecRubio for imposing sanctions that hit directly at the corrupt financial network keeping the Cuban dictatorship in power. For decades, the regime used military-run businesses like GAESA to enrich communist military elites while ordinary Cubans suffered” (May 7, 2026).
Shortly after, she reiterated her position in Spanish: “Aplaudo a @POTUS y @SecRubio por golpear donde más le duele a la dictadura cubana. GAESA es la caja fuerte de la élite militar comunista y mientras el pueblo cubano vive entre apagones, hambre, represión y miseria, los jerarcas del régimen viven como millonarios.” (May 7, 2026).
The posts reference GAESA (Grupo de Administración Empresarial S.A.), a conglomerate controlled by the Cuban military that manages significant portions of Cuba’s economy. The U.S. government has previously targeted entities linked to GAESA with sanctions aimed at limiting financial flows to the Cuban military elite.
On May 8, Salazar shifted focus to acknowledge the contributions of military spouses in the United States. She stated: “Military spouses serve our country in ways that often go unseen. Their strength, sacrifice, and unwavering support hold military families together through every deployment and every challenge. Today, we thank them for all they do for our service members and our nation.” (May 8, 2026).
Salazar’s remarks reflect ongoing debates over U.S.-Cuba policy as well as continued recognition of the role played by American military families.
