Cuba's communist government staged a defiant May Day rally outside the U.S. Embassy in Havana amid severe economic crisis. President Miguel Díaz-Canel led the gathering, which came as Trump administration oil sanctions plunged the country into blackouts and sent food prices soaring.

The Cuban regime claimed more than 6.2 million signatures on a petition against U.S. intervention, though critics noted the country's population is estimated at just eight million. Many attendees were government workers brought to the event on state buses, reflecting the regime's attempts to project unity amid mounting economic pressure.

State Department officials criticized the celebration as "telling" that Cuba prioritizes propaganda over addressing citizens' needs. An independent survey revealed over half of respondents supported direct U.S. military intervention, contrasting with the government's narrative. For ordinary Cubans, the event masked daily struggles with fuel shortages and inflation that continue to worsen the nation's economic plight.