Trump hints at Cuba pressure after Iran campaign, eyes Rubio role
Synopsis
At a Florida rally, Trump casually but pointedly suggested Cuba would be next on America’s foreign policy list after Iran — with US warships stopping 50 yards off the coast and Marco Rubio dispatched to ‘finish the deal.’ No formal policy was announced, but the remarks align Cuba, Iran, and Venezuela into a single arc of Trump-era power projection.
Key Takeaways
Donald Trump suggested at a rally in Fort Myers, Florida on 24 October 2026 that Cuba could face renewed US pressure after the Iran military campaign.
Trump described a scenario where US naval ships would stop 50 yards off Cuba’s coast before Marco Rubio was sent in to ‘finish the deal.’ No formal military operation or diplomatic initiative against Havana was announced; the Pentagon has not confirmed any such planning.
Trump also claimed his administration had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and that US operations had severely weakened Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities.
Marco Rubio , a Cuban-American and long-time advocate of a hardline Cuba policy, was praised by Trump as a potential diplomatic envoy to Havana.
Cuba and the US have had strained relations since the Cuban Revolution of 1959 , underpinned by decades of American sanctions.
US President Donald Trump has suggested that Cuba could become the next target of renewed American pressure once military operations against Iran conclude, raising the prospect of a US naval presence near the Caribbean island and a significant diplomatic role for Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The remarks were made at a Republican campaign rally in Fort Myers, Florida, on 24 October 2026.
What Trump Said
Responding to an audience question about Cuba, Trump linked the island's future directly to ongoing American military operations in the Middle East. “Cuba, he wants to know what about Cuba. Give me a break. Give me a break. Don’t worry, we’ll take care of Cuba on our way back from Iran,” Trump told supporters.
He then described a hypothetical scenario involving US naval vessels returning from the Middle East and passing close to Cuban waters. “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,” Trump said. The audience responded with applause, though Trump delivered the remarks in a characteristically light-hearted manner.
No Formal Policy Announced
Trump did not announce any formal military operation or diplomatic initiative against Havana. He did not specify what agreement Rubio might seek, whether Washington had opened new negotiations with the Cuban government, or what conditions Havana would be required to meet. He also did not indicate whether any proposed naval movement near Cuba was under active consideration by the Pentagon.
Notably, Trump made the Cuba remarks in the same breath as claims about his administration’s actions against Venezuela and Iran, framing Cuba as the next item in a broader regional agenda. He claimed his administration had “captured and brought to justice the outlaw dictator of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, who is now awaiting trial,” and that the Venezuela operation had been completed in a single day, after which Washington was reportedly working with the country to expand oil production.
Iran in the Crosshairs
Turning to Iran, Trump said American operations had severely weakened Tehran’s military and nuclear capabilities, and he left open the possibility of further strikes if Iran failed to reach an agreement with Washington. These assertions were used to portray his administration as willing and able to employ military force as a foreign policy instrument.
Trump’s comments placed Cuba alongside Iran and Venezuela in an overarching narrative about American power projection under his presidency.
Rubio’s Cuba Connection
Trump praised Rubio directly, calling him “a great guy.” Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American politician from Florida, has long been one of the most prominent advocates of a hardline US policy towards Havana. His record on Cuba has been a defining feature of his foreign policy profile, making Trump’s suggestion of a possible negotiating role for him politically significant, even if informal or speculative at this stage.
Decades of Strained Relations
Cuba and the United States have endured strained bilateral ties since the Cuban Revolution of 1959. American sanctions and disagreements over political freedoms, security and regional influence have remained central fault lines. This comes amid a broader pattern of Trump’s second-term foreign policy, which critics argue combines rhetorical maximalism with selective use of military force as diplomatic leverage.
Whether Trump’s Cuba remarks signal a concrete policy shift or remain campaign-trail colour will become clearer in the weeks ahead as his administration’s post-Iran strategic priorities come into focus.
Point of View
But the pattern matters: he has consistently used campaign-stage hyperbole to signal genuine policy intent, from Venezuela to Iran. Rubio’s centrality to the framing is not incidental — a Cuban-American Secretary of State as the designated dealmaker gives the rhetoric a structural logic. What mainstream coverage risks underplaying is how these remarks, even if unscripted, function as diplomatic signalling to Havana, Caracas, and Tehran simultaneously. The unresolved question is whether Washington has any actual leverage on Cuba beyond naval theatre — a country that has weathered over six decades of American pressure with its government intact.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Trump say about Cuba at the Fort Myers rally?
Trump suggested the US would ‘take care of Cuba’ after its military campaign against Iran, describing a scenario in which US naval ships would stop 50 yards off Cuba’s coast and Secretary of State Marco Rubio would be sent in to negotiate a deal. The remarks were made at a Republican campaign rally in Fort Myers, Florida, on 24 October 2026.
Did Trump announce a formal military or diplomatic operation against Cuba?
No. Trump did not announce any formal military operation or diplomatic initiative against Havana. He did not specify what agreement Rubio might seek, whether negotiations with Cuba had begun, or whether the Pentagon was planning any naval movement near the island.
Why is Marco Rubio significant in the context of Cuba policy?
Marco Rubio is a Cuban-American politician and US Secretary of State who has long advocated a hardline American policy towards Havana. His background and record make Trump’s suggestion of a Rubio-led negotiating role politically and symbolically significant, even in the absence of a concrete plan.
What claims did Trump make about Venezuela and Iran at the same rally?
Trump claimed his administration had captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and brought him to the United States to face trial, completing the operation in a single day. On Iran, he said US operations had severely weakened Tehran’s military and nuclear capabilities, and he left open the possibility of further strikes if Iran failed to reach a deal with Washington.
What is the history of US-Cuba relations?
The United States and Cuba have had strained relations since the Cuban Revolution of 1959. American sanctions, disagreements over political freedoms, and disputes over regional influence have defined the bilateral relationship for over six decades, with no full diplomatic normalisation achieved to date.
