After getting criticized for the way President Barack Obama reacted to the news of Fidel Castro’s death, the White House still decided to send a delegate to attend the former dictator’s funeral. According to White House press secretary Josh Earnest, senior aide Ben Rhodes will attend the funeral along with Jeffrey DeLaurentis, Obama’s appointed Chargé d’affaires ad interim of the U.S. Embassy in Havana.
As noted by Earnest, Rhodes will not serve as an official delegate of the White House in Castro’s funeral, Breitbart reported. However, he will still act as an informal representative of the administration in an effort to normalize ties between the U.S. and Cuba, something that has been strongly criticized by Republicans due to the numerous economic, political and human rights violation committed by Castro’s regime.
News about Rhodes’ trip to Cuba came a day after Republican Senator Ted Cruz called out Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on how they reacted to the death of the former tyrant. As they were offering their condolences, these two leaders praised the dictator for his contributions to Cuba.
Cruz, however, pointed out that Castro served as a murderous leader who oppressed the Cuban people for over 50 years. And, even after his death, the oppression and abuse still continue under the leadership of Fidel’s brother Raul.
The senator and former Republican presidential candidate then warned Democrats and the Obama administration about sending a representative to Castro’s funeral because it shows the notion that the U.S. is honoring a murderous dictator.
“I hope we don’t see Barack Obama and Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton and the Democrats lining up to ionize a murderous tyrant and thug,” Cruz told ABC News.
“If you wouldn’t go to Pol Pot’s funeral or Stalin’s funeral or Mao’s funeral because they were murderous communist dictators then you shouldn’t be doing what Barack Obama and Justin Trudeau are doing, which is celebrating Fidel Castro, a murderous communist dictator,” he added.
