Trump and Rubio escalate rhetoric on possible Cuba action

Emily R. Condon, USA TODAYSat, October 24, 2026 at 8:25 PM UTC

79

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and President Donald Trump made separate comments regarding Cuba on Friday, Oct. 23, that threaten to escalate tensions between the U.S. and it's Caribbean neighbor.The comments suggested that Cubans take action to change their government, and also hinted at U.S. military intimidation.

"To those who seek to create positive change in Cuba – now is the time," Rubio posted on X.

Trump, at a midterm campaign rally in Florida, said that "we'll take care of Cuba on our way back from Iran," calling it "a little stopover" by U.S. military ships coming back from the Mideast.

"We'll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast," Trump said. "They'll raise up their hands, and then we're going to send Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal."

The CIA also posted, saying in a reply to Rubio's post that "To those seeking to create positive change in Cuba – This is the moment. The disappointment of failed promises, the 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 at a press conference during the week of the United Nations General Assembly. He told reporters that he was "certainly not going to threaten anything," but said that the Cuban leaders "or the people that are in charge of its government now, have an opportunity to begin the process of forever positively changing that country."

Advertisement

"No one is going to invest in Cuba under their current governance model. They’re just not going to do it. Which is why I always go back to it’s not just about political freedom, which is incredibly important, but it is about having a governance model on that island that gives the private sector confidence that if they invest, they’re going to make their money back with a profit and have – not have it taken from them and never get paid back," Rubio said on Sept. 23.

The comments come after months of escalated tension between the White House and Havana, including economic pressure through a blockade. In March, the White House sought an economic deal with Cuba.

The U.S. Department of Justice indicted the country's former President Raúl Castro and five other Cuban nationals in May, and Castro was charged with trying to kill Americans, which he denies.

More: Exclusive - Inside the US strategy to indict Cuba's Raul Castro

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla posted a response Friday, saying, "We reject all threats regarding U.S. ambitions toward Cuba," adding: "On our shores, there are beautiful beaches, but also dogtooth, inhospitable to those who arrive with hostile intentions and desires for

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump and Rubio escalate rhetoric on possible Cuba action

Original Article on Source

Source: “AOL Breaking”