Ask a dozen people who Fidel Castro was, and you’ll get a dozen different answers. To many, he was a revolutionary who gave Cuba back to the people following his coup in 1959. To others, he was a dictator who oppressed his people and nearly plunged the world into nuclear war during the Cuban Missile Crisis only a few years later.
It’s understandable then that reactions have been so mixed since his brother, Raul Castro, announced that the 90-year-old had died early this morning.
In Cuba itself, a period of mourning has been announced on the island until 4 December, when his ashes will be laid to rest in Santiago.
ADALBERTO ROQUE / Getty
While in Miami, Florida, Cuban Americans who fled Castro’s oppressive regime celebrated his death in the streets by banging pans and drinking champagne.
RHONA WISE / Stringer
RHONA WISE / Stringer
Members of Leftists organizations in India organized a remembrance rally in Kolkata.
DIBYANGSHU SARKAR / Stringer
While flowers littered the Cuban embassy in Moscow, Russia.
VASILY MAXIMOV / Getty
President Obama, who ended the United State’s embargo of Cuba, said in a statement that “history will judge the enormous impact” of Cuba’s late leader on the world. While president-elect Donald Trump was far less diplomatic in his reaction.
@realDonaldTrump When can Pokémon marry?
— alex illest ♠️ (@alexillest) November 26, 2016
Reactions on social media have seen just as mixed.
Amusing to see liberals eulogising Fidel Castro, a homophobic bigot, whilst continuing to lambast Mike Pence.. for being a homophobic bigot.
— Piers Morgan (@piersmorgan) November 26, 2016
Just when you thought 2016 could not get any more ironic, Fidel Castro died on Black Friday, the most capitalist day there is.
— Blaire White ?? (@MsBlaireWhite) November 26, 2016
Cuba’s Fidel Castro, 90, is dead. Survived 638 assassination attempts, was a friend to Africa and pictured here with notable African leaders pic.twitter.com/6vZdlBXNDp
— Facts About Africa (@OnlyAfricaFacts) November 26, 2016
Fidel Castro was one of the most iconic personalities of the 20th century. India mourns the loss of a great friend.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 26, 2016
Fidel Castro survived 638 assassination attempts, but even he could not survive 2016.
— Boogie2988 (@Boogie2988) November 26, 2016
1. Today the world lost an iconic revolutionary leader Fidel Castro who liberated his nation from all vestiges of imperialism.
— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) November 26, 2016