Cuba dismisses Trump criticism as ‘ridiculous’

Cuban state television responded to a statement by US President Donald Trump on Saturday-railing against “cruel despotism” in the Caribbean country and advocating democracy-by calling it “ridiculous.” Trump’s words came in a tribute on Cuban Independence Day, which marks victory against the Spanish colonial authorities 115 years ago, calling for economic freedoms and respect for human rights in Cuba.

“Cruel despotism cannot extinguish the flame of freedom in the hearts of Cubans, and... unjust persecution cannot tamper Cubans’ dreams for their children to live free from oppression,” he said in a statement. Cuban television broadcast its response late in the evening, describing Trump as “the ill-advised US president” and his statement as “controversial and ridiculous.” “Even the US government itself is aware of the contradictory and clumsy pronouncements of the billionaire tycoon-turned-president on both foreign and domestic policy,” it said.

The broadcast did not say whether the Cuban statement constituted an official response, nor did it directly address Trump’s criticisms. One-party communist Cuba has been ruled by President Raul Castro for 12 years since he took over from his ailing brother Fidel, the revolutionary leader who died in November having defied the United States during a halfcentury of iron-fisted rule.