Progressive Democrats Ilhan Omar and Pramilia Jayapal led a delegation to Cuba to discuss human rights, drawing criticism for prioritizing this over domestic issues like the border crisis.
The trip was undisclosed and not reported in Cuban media due to the U.S. embargo.
Both lawmakers advocate for normalizing U.S.-Cuba relations and have been critical of the embargo.
No surprise that the Hamas Caucus made a pilgrimage to Cuba last week to get a refresher course on communism to bring back to DC. https://t.co/xnx5ARwzjx
— Rep. Mike Waltz (@michaelgwaltz) February 28, 2024
The visit sparked backlash from fellow Congress members, accusing them of sympathizing with communism.
It is “no surprise” Omar and Jayapal traveled to Cuba “to get a refresher course on communism to bring back to DC,” Rep. Mike Waltz wrote on X.
“All members of the media should refer to the Progressive Caucus by their more accurate name – the Congressional Communist Sympathizing Caucus,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis wrote.
“It’s outrageous that Members of Congress would visit a country that jails, abuses, and murders their citizens and supports Iran, Russia and Communist China against our interests. Perhaps their time would be better spent listening to the Cubans crossing our southern border & risking their lives on makeshift rafts to find out why they’re fleeing Communism,” she added.
