Rep Jayapal defends outreach after Cuba trip drew conspiracy allegations, death threats
Jayapal says she is working on legislation to address what she calls 'cruel collective punishment' of U.S. fuel restrictions
By Kiera McDonald Fox News
Published May 14, 2026 3:53pm EDT
Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., said she has received death threats for "doing my job" and meeting with foreign ambassadors about Cuba’s fuel shortages and U.S. sanctions.
Following her trip to Cuba as part of a congressional delegation in April, conservatives are now labeling the progressive lawmaker a "traitor" who is "conspiring against the U.S." because she met with political leaders to discuss the "crisis" on the island.
"I've gotten death threats as a result of this," Jayapal told Fox News Digital on Wednesday. "People are calling for me to be shot, and it's just a fabrication. It is what's wrong with so much of the work that we do."
Following her controversial visit to Cuba with Rep. Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill., Jayapal spoke at a Seattle briefing, where her comments went viral on X.
She admitted to meeting with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel, senior government officials, political dissidents, civil society groups and foreign diplomats to discuss the island’s "crisis beyond imagination."
Jayapal justified the meetings as part of her job as a member of Congress.
"It's ridiculous," she said. "First of all, I had a meeting with the ambassadors of a couple of countries to hear how U.S. policy toward Cuba was affecting those countries. We meet with ambassadors all the time. That is part of our job, to assess what's going on on the ground."
She said U.S. sanctions have not been effective. Instead, she called for direct negotiations with Cuba.
"I've been very clear that the way to engage with Cuba is through a true diplomatic negotiation and that none of the embargo, that's been the longest-standing embargo for over 60 years, or the fuel blockade is helping us to achieve any of that," she said.
Jayapal said she is working to address the impacts of U.S. fuel restrictions, which she has slammed as "cruel collective punishment" to the citizens of the island.
"I’m working on legislation to address negative impacts of U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba," she said. "I’m a member of Congress. I have every right to go travel and to meet with other ambassadors."
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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/rep-jayapal-defends-outreach-cuba-trip-drew-conspiracy-allegations-death-threats
