Mamdani Advisor's Cuba Trip Revealed: Diary Details Anti-US Plot

A travel diary belonging to Danny Valdez, an advisor and friend to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, has surfaced, reportedly detailing a trip to Cuba in late October 2023. According to the diary, Valdez met with Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel with the stated purpose of partnering to end the U.S. embargo on the island nation.

Valdez, who hosted a fundraiser for Mamdani's mayoral campaign, traveled to Cuba as part of a delegation from the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) International Committee. The diary, titled "The Cuba Diaries" and since-deleted, described the meeting with Diaz-Canel as a significant accomplishment, indicating that the Cuban government viewed the DSA as "potential partners in the work of ending the US blockade."

During the trip, the delegation stayed at the Grand Aston Havana, a five-star hotel. Valdez's writings described a "luxurious experience," including ample food, drinks, and modern amenities, contrasting it with scenes of poverty and dilapidated buildings he observed elsewhere on the island. He also mentioned enjoying meals at prominent Cuban restaurants and a "welcome cocktail" at the hotel.

Valdez, who founded the nonprofit "Cuban Americans for Cuba" in April 2026 to advocate for an end to the U.S. embargo, has previously advised Mamdani on Cuba policy. He stated that he and the DSA delegation traveled to Cuba to "challenge the blockade" and oppose U.S. policies toward the country.

The diary also noted meetings with other Cuban figures, including Mariela Castro, niece of Fidel Castro, at the National Center for Sex Education. Valdez's writings have been described as defending the Cuban government's policies and human rights record, despite his family's history of fleeing the communist regime and his grandfather's imprisonment.

Valdez confirmed the trip and his meeting with President Diaz-Canel to The Post, reiterating his and the DSA's stance against the U.S. embargo and broader U.S. foreign policy toward Cuba. No criminal wrongdoing has been alleged in connection with the visit.