Biden’s Parting Gift to Cuba: Terrorism Label Removed, Critics Cry Foul

Kamira / Shutterstock.com

In a move that has left many scratching their heads, President Joe Biden has decided to remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism. Yes, you heard that right. The same Cuba that has been a thorn in America’s side for decades is now getting a free pass just days before Biden exits the Oval Office.

The administration justifies this decision by pointing to the Catholic Church’s negotiations with the Cuban government for the release of political prisoners. According to a senior official, ‘We view this as an opportune moment… given the important dialogue that is taking place between Cuba and the Catholic Church.’ So, because the Cuban regime might release some prisoners, we’re supposed to overlook their long history of supporting terrorism? Interesting logic.

Unsurprisingly, this move has sparked bipartisan outrage. Senator Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American and President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, didn’t mince words: ‘The terrorism advanced by the Cuban regime has not ceased. I will work with President Trump and my colleagues to immediately reverse and limit the damage from the decision.’ It’s not every day you see Democrats and Republicans agreeing on something, but leave it to Biden to unite the parties in collective disbelief.

Even the Florida Democratic Party is up in arms. Chair Nikki Fried stated, ‘We condemn in the strongest terms Cuba’s removal from this list… the regime’s treatment of the Cuban people … .’ When members of your own party are calling you out, it’s safe to say you’ve made a questionable decision.

Let’s not forget why Cuba was on the list in the first place. The Trump administration re-designated Cuba as a state sponsor of terrorism in 2021, citing the country’s harboring of U.S. fugitives and support for violent revolutionaries. For instance, Cuba has provided safe haven to members of the National Liberation Army ( … . After the ELN claimed responsibility for a 2019 bombing in Bogotá that killed 22 people, Cuba refused Colombia’s request to extradite ten ELN … . But apparently, all is forgiven now.

The timing of this decision is particularly baffling. With President-elect Donald Trump set to take office in a matter of days, it’s almost certain that this move will be reversed. So why bother? Is this Biden’s idea of a parting gift to the Cuban regime? Or perhaps it’s an attempt to cement some sort of legacy, no matter how misguided.

Critics argue that this decision sends the wrong message to authoritarian regimes worldwide. By lifting the terrorism designation without concrete evidence of change, the U.S. appears to be rewarding bad behavior. It’s akin to giving a student an A for effort, even though they failed the exam.

In the end, this move seems more like a symbolic gesture than a well-thought-out policy decision. It undermines the efforts of those who have fought tirelessly for human rights in Cuba and signals a willingness to overlook serious offenses for the sake of diplomatic posturing.

As we bid farewell to the Biden administration, one can’t help but wonder: Is this the legacy they hoped to leave behind? A legacy of appeasement and short-sighted decisions that will likely be undone before the ink is dry? Only time will tell, but for now, it seems the outgoing president is determined to go out with a whimper rather than a bang.