In the colorful world of Cuban music, Los Tres de la Habana were once best known for their infectious rhythms, blending salsa, timba, and traditional Cuban beats into a sound that resonated across the Caribbean and Latin American diaspora. But over the last few years, the band’s name has taken on a far more controversial tone, not for their music, but for their unapologetic alliance with President Donald Trump and their role in creating what many have labeled the unofficial anthem for Latino deportation.
“We did it because we wanted to. We didn’t get a penny for it, nobody commissioned it, we didn’t know it would be so well received. That’s why I’m most grateful to the people for sending us so many loving messages. And also, we’ve reached a point in which the President of the United States knows who we are. Three immigrants, three strangers to him.” ~ Los Tres de la Habana
Founded in Havana and later based in Miami, Los Tres de la Habana rose to popularity with their engaging stage presence and vibrant musical style. The band is made up of a married couple, Germán Pinelli and Ana Páez, along with Germán’s brother, Marlow Rosado, adding a layer of personal unity that once made their message feel authentically Cuban. However, their musical trajectory took a stark political turn during Trump’s first term, as they aligned themselves publicly with his administration’s policies and rhetoric, particularly around immigration.
The band made headlines in 2020 after producing “El Comandante,” a Trump campaign jingle sung in Spanish, praising the then-president. While many dismissed it as political satire or a fringe display of Miami’s unique Cuban exile politics, the truth is that the song became a viral rallying cry for a troubling contradiction, a Latino band cheering on the very administration responsible for tearing Latino families apart through mass deportations and harsh immigration crackdowns.
Their song wasn’t just a harmless show of support, it became the soundtrack of cruelty for many. As ICE raids intensified and Latino communities faced fear, detainment, and deportation, Los Tres de la Habana’s pro-Trump anthem played in the background like a cruel joke. They didn’t just turn their backs on immigrants, they helped put a rhythm behind the suffering.
This phenomenon speaks to a broader and deeply uncomfortable truth: a significant portion of Trump’s Latino base, particularly in South Florida, voted for policies that directly endangered other Latinos. Whether out of alignment with anti-socialist messaging, conservative Catholic values, or fear-driven nationalism, many Latinos helped propel a candidate who actively weaponized immigration enforcement. And now, as the deportation machine under Trump’s second term cranks into gear, many from that same base are crying out for help.
While 92% of Black women voted against Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024, standing firm against his divisive agenda, some in the Latino community who previously supported that agenda are now turning to Black women and men, accusing them of being passive in the face of injustice. This kind of selective amnesia ignores how Los Tres de la Habana and many like them amplified the very messages that led to families being separated and undocumented people living in fear.
The problem isn’t that they supported a political figure. The problem is that they weaponized their art and culture against their own people, made a mockery of immigrant suffering, and now expect solidarity from the very communities they once overlooked or dismissed. Cultural betrayal cuts deep, and when you make a deportation anthem go viral, that’s not just politics. That’s personal.
As the United States navigates yet another contentious political era, artists and influencers must ask themselves what side of history they want to be on. Music has always had the power to heal, but when used irresponsibly, it can also wound, and Los Tres de la Habana are now a glaring example of the latter.
