Trump: US to “Take Care of Cuba” After Iran, Send Rubio
US President Donald Trump has warned that America will “take care of Cuba” once it is done with Iran, and will send Secretary of State Marco Rubio to finish the deal.
Speaking at a midterm-election campaign rally on Friday, October 23, at Florida Gulf Coast University’s Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Trump laid out what he described as his plan for the island nation.
“We’ll take care of Cuba on our way back from Iran. We’ll do a little stopover,” Trump told supporters. He painted a vivid picture: “Actually, what we’re going to do with Cuba is we’re going to come back from Iran, those beautiful ships will pass Cuba. We’ll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast. They’ll raise up their hands, and then we’re going to send Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal.”
Rubio’s Message to Cubans
The warning came the same day Secretary of State Marco Rubio — himself of Cuban descent — publicly called on the people of Cuba to form what he called a “discreet partnership” with the CIA, saying it would bring “positive change” to the country.
In a post on X, Rubio wrote that those seeking change should “seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discreet partnership with the CIA,” blaming corruption and “the privileged lives of only a few” for the island’s suffering.
Cuba Fires Back
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez rejected the threats outright. In a post on X, he wrote: “We reject every threat related to US ambitions toward Cuba. Our coastline is full of beautiful beaches, but there are also razor-sharp limestone spikes, an inhospitable environment for those who make it to our shores with hostile purposes and lust for domination.”
Mounting Pressure on Havana
Trump predicted last month that the US and Cuba would reach an agreement, and said at the time he did not think military action would be necessary. His administration has previously stated its goal is to change Cuba’s communist government.
A US-imposed oil blockade implemented earlier this year has put Cuba under severe strain as it contends with fuel shortages and blackouts worsened by failing infrastructure. Washington has maintained an embargo on Cuba for more than 60 years, and pressure on Havana has intensified since the US military seized then-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro in a January raid.
Cuba’s foreign minister told the UN General Assembly last month that Cuba would always be open for dialogue with Washington — even as the threats escalate.
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Sources: Reuters, The Times of Israel, Anadolu Agency, The Tribune India (October 23–24, 2026)