October 24, 2026, 4:25 p.m. ET
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump made separate comments regarding Cuba on Friday (October 23), which threaten to escalate tensions between the United States and its Caribbean neighbor. These comments suggested that Cubans take steps to change their government and also alluded to U.S. military intimidation.
“To those seeking to create positive change in Cuba, now is the time,” Rubio posted on X.
Trump, at a midterm campaign rally in Florida, said “we will take care of Cuba when we return from Iran,” calling it a “small stopover” for U.S. military ships returning from the Middle East.
“We will make one of them stop about 50 yards from shore,” Trump said. “They’ll raise their hands, and then we’ll send in Marco Rubio to seal the deal.”
The CIA also released a message in response to Rubio’s message: “To those seeking to create positive change in Cuba – Now is the time. The disappointment of broken promises, corruption and the privileged lives of a few – Seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discreet partnership with the CIA. »
In September, Rubio addressed the situation in Cuba during a press conference during the week of the United Nations General Assembly. He told reporters he was “certainly not going to threaten anything” but said Cuba’s leaders “or the people who are currently leading its government have the opportunity to begin the process of changing this country for good forever.”
“No one is going to invest in Cuba with their current governance model. They just won’t do it. That’s why I always come back to the fact that it’s not just about political freedom, which is extremely important, but having a governance model on this island that gives the private sector the confidence that if they invest, they’re going to get their money back at a profit and not get it taken away and never get paid back,” Rubio said on September 23.
The comments come after months of heightened tensions between the White House and Havana, including economic pressures from a blockade. In March, the White House sought to reach an economic agreement with Cuba.
The U.S. Justice Department in May indicted former President Raúl Castro and five other Cuban nationals. Castro has been accused of attempted murder against Americans, which he denies.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla issued a response Friday saying, “We reject all threats regarding American ambitions toward Cuba,” adding, “On our coasts there are beautiful beaches, but also dog-tooth beaches, inhospitable to those who arrive with hostile intentions and desires.”
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