Trump revives Cuba intervention talk after Iran war

President Donald Trump told a midterm campaign rally on Oct. 23, 2026, at Alico Arena, Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, that U.S. warships returning from Iran could stop about 50 yards off Cuba. Responding to a shouted audience question, he said: "We'll do a little stopover. 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." Moments later Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted on X that those seeking positive change in Cuba should seize a discreet partnership with the CIA. Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez posted a rejection of every threat related to U.S. ambitions toward Cuba, citing razor-sharp limestone spikes on the coast. Trump has said Rubio is deep into negotiations with Cuba, that he does not think the military will be needed because Cuba is failing very badly, and earlier that it looks like he will be the one that does it. The administration added penalties on nine Cuban state firms; Cuba's GDP has shrunk since 2020, with about 10 million residents facing blackouts, food shortages and inflation. A U.S.-Cuba clash at the U.N. preceded the upcoming annual vote condemning the U.S. embargo. CONTESTED: none found in record.