NY Post reports Mamdani adviser Danny Valdez met Cuba's president on 2023 DSA trip
The New York Post reported on 11 October 2026, from a since-deleted blog post, that Danny Valdez, a friend and adviser to NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani, met Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel on a 2023 DSA delegation. Valdez confirmed the trip and the meeting; the coverage so far comes only from right-leaning outlets.
1 / 2
The story, neutrally told
Right · 2The New York Post reported on 11 October 2026 that Danny Valdez, a friend and adviser to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, met Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel during a 2023 trip to Cuba with a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) delegation. New York PostR “A friend and advisor to socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani met with the president of Cuba” Read at New York Post ↗ Just the NewsRC “met with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel during a 2023 trip to Cuba with a Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) delegation” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 2The report is based on a since-deleted blog post, dated 9 November 2023 and titled "The Cuba Diaries", which says the DSA International Committee delegation travelled from 22 to 26 October 2023 and met Díaz-Canel on the third day. New York PostR “traveled to Cuba with a delegation from the DSA International Committee from Oct. 22 to Oct. 26, 2023, according to the Nov. 9, 2023 blog post” Read at New York Post ↗ Just the NewsRC “said the delegation traveled to Cuba from October 22 to 26, 2023” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 1Valdez wrote that the meeting showed the Cuban government "took our organization seriously and saw us as potential partners in the work of ending the US blockade"; the Post says the delegation's purpose was to end the US embargo, in place since 1962. New York PostR “It was a sign that the Cuban government took our organization seriously and saw us as potential partners in the work of ending the US blockade,” Valdez wrote.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 2Valdez confirmed the trip and the meeting to the Post, and said the delegation went to "challenge the blockade" and "affirm our position that we do not support the general policies the US has toward Cuba." New York PostR “Valdez confirmed the trip to The Post and that he met with Cuba's president.” Read at New York Post ↗ Just the NewsRC “Valdez confirmed the trip and his meeting with Díaz-Canel to the media outlet.” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 2The Post says the group stayed at the five-star Grand Aston Havana, and quotes the diary as describing an "abnormally luxurious experience of Cuba"; it also quotes Valdez contrasting that with hungry people and buildings that looked "bombed out". New York PostR “We undoubtedly had an abnormally luxurious experience of Cuba.” Read at New York Post ↗ Just the NewsRC “The delegation reportedly stayed at a luxury Havana hotel and visited prominent Cuban political figures.” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 1DSA co-chair Ashik Siddique appears beside Díaz-Canel in a group photo on the blog, and the delegation also met Mariela Castro, according to the Post; Siddique did not respond to the Post's request for comment. New York PostR “DSA co-chair Ashik Siddique is also seen next to Diaz-Canel in the photo posted on Valdez's blog.”“Siddique did not respond to The Post's request for comment.” Read at New York Post ↗
Right · 2Valdez hosted a fundraiser for Mamdani's 2025 mayoral campaign, and said in a 2025 DSA candidate questionnaire and to the Post that they advised Mamdani on Cuba policy; in April 2026 Valdez founded Cuban Americans for Cuba, a nonprofit seeking an end to the US embargo. New York PostR “In April 2026, Valdez founded “Cuban Americans for Cuba,” a nonprofit group that advocates for an end to the US embargo.” Read at New York Post ↗ Just the NewsRC “Valdez previously said he advised Mamdani on Cuba policy during the mayoral campaign and hosted a fundraiser for him in 2025.” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 2The Post says Valdez, whose grandfather was jailed for six years after the family left Cuba, wrote that they wished the Cuban government had not used political repression but that "wishes do not make political reality", and defended Cuba's neighbourhood Committees for the Defense of the Revolution. New York PostR ““But wishes do not make political reality.”” Read at New York Post ↗ Just the NewsRC “Valdez criticized U.S. policy toward Cuba while acknowledging political repression by the Cuban government, including the imprisonment of his grandfather.” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 1The Post notes that Valdez and the delegation have not been accused of any criminal wrongdoing in connection with the visit; Valdez did not respond to its request for comment on the diary's contents, and no response from Mamdani's office is reported. New York PostR “Valdez and the delegation have not be accused of any criminal wrongdoing in connection with the visit.”“Valdez, who did not respond to The Post's request for comment” Read at New York Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- The Post leads with an exposé tone, presenting the diary as revealing a plot against US policy and a luxurious trip by Mamdani's associate. Just the News relays the Post's report in shorter, more restrained form, labelled as 'report'.
- Emphasis
- The Post stresses the luxury hotel, the meeting with Díaz-Canel, Valdez's defence of Cuban institutions and Cuba's poverty statistics. Just the News stresses the meeting and Valdez's link to Mamdani.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet reports a response from Mamdani or his office. Neither gives a view from the delegation members beyond Valdez's confirmation, and neither is balanced by non-right outlets. The Post's own note that nobody has been accused of wrongdoing is not carried by Just the News.
- Charged language
- “secret Cuba diary”“exposes anti-US plot”“luxe trip”“conspired”“champagne socialists”“Cuban dictator”“Gestapo-like outfit”
- For example
-
“Mamdani advisor’s secret Cuba diary exposes anti-US plot, luxe trip” — New York Post
“a Gestapo-like outfit that surveils neighborhoods” — New York Post
“Mamdani friend and advisor met with Cuban dictator: report” — Just the News
What every side reports
- Danny Valdez, a friend and adviser to Mayor Zohran Mamdani, met Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel during a DSA delegation trip to Cuba on 22-26 October 2023.
- Valdez confirmed the trip and the meeting.
- Valdez hosted a 2025 fundraiser for Mamdani and founded Cuban Americans for Cuba in April 2026.
- The source is a since-deleted blog post called "The Cuba Diaries".
Zohran Mamdani person
Mamdani is described as the mayor Valdez advised on Cuba policy and for whom Valdez hosted a 2025 fundraiser; no statement from Mamdani is reported.
“Valdez, who hosted a fundraiser for Mamdani's mayoral campaign in 2025” — New York Post
“Valdez previously said he advised Mamdani on Cuba policy during the mayoral campaign” — Just the News
Democratic Socialists of America organisation
The DSA delegation travelled to challenge the US embargo; the Post cites a DSA tribute to Fidel Castro and says co-chair Ashik Siddique, who did not comment, was on the trip.
“DSA co-chair Ashik Siddique is also seen next to Diaz-Canel in the photo posted on Valdez's blog.” — New York Post
“In August, the DSA released a tribute to “100 Years of Fidel [Castro],”” — New York Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
-
Mamdani friend and advisor met with Cuban dictator: report
Mixed Short secondhand summary of the Post's report, attributed as 'report', though its headline calls Díaz-Canel a 'dictator'.
-
Mamdani advisor’s secret Cuba diary exposes anti-US plot, luxe trip
Critical Presents the diary as exposing a plot and a lavish trip by a Mamdani associate, with pointed language about Valdez and the Cuban government.
- 11 Oct 10:13 First New York PostR Mamdani advisor’s secret Cuba diary exposes anti-US plot, luxe trip
- 11 Oct 18:20 +8h 7m Just the NewsRC Mamdani friend and advisor met with Cuban dictator: report
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.