Although he did concede that some protesters had legitimate concerns about food shortages and blackouts, Díaz-Canel blamed Trump-era U.S. sanctions (which then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo described as being meant to “starve” the country), rather than government mismanagement, for such problems. However, in a nationally televised address Monday morning, Díaz-Canel argued that the demonstrations represented a U.S.-designed “soft coup” intended to “fracture” and ultimately overthrow the Cuban Communist Party, and accused protesters of being “shameful delinquents” and mercenaries paid by the U.S. government.
