US President Donald Trump made a joke about sending Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Cuba on an aircraft carrier during a speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York on September 22, 2026. The comment was made in reference to Rubio's Cuban heritage and his role in shaping US policy towards the island nation. Trump's remarks were met with attention given the current strained relations between the US and Cuba.
The joke was made in the context of Trump's comments on Cuba, where he expressed a desire for a change in the island's political situation and predicted the downfall of the current system. The Cuban delegation left the room during Trump's speech. This is not the first time Trump has made a comment about sending a military vessel near Cuba. In May 2026, he mentioned the possibility of a US aircraft carrier passing near the island.
Marco Rubio, born in Miami in 1971, is the son of Cuban immigrants who fled the island in 1956. As a senator from Florida, Rubio has been a vocal advocate for a tough stance on Cuba. He was appointed as Secretary of State in 2025 and has been directly involved in shaping US policy towards Cuba. Rubio's background and current role likely contributed to Trump's joke.
The US and Cuba have had a strained relationship for decades. In September 2026, the US announced new sanctions on 11 Cuban individuals and entities, including structures linked to the nickel industry and the military. The Cuban government denounced these measures. Rubio has been a key figure in these discussions and has defended a restrictive policy towards the Cuban government.
Trump's comments on Cuba and Rubio come amid a broader shift in US policy towards the island. During the Obama administration, there were efforts to normalize relations with Cuba, but these have been rolled back under Trump. Rubio has been a key player in these changes, and his appointment as Secretary of State has signaled a tougher stance on Cuba.
The joke about sending Rubio to Cuba on an aircraft carrier may have been made in jest, but it highlights the current tensions between the US and Cuba. The US has maintained an economic embargo on Cuba since the early 1960s, and Trump's comments suggest that this policy is unlikely to change anytime soon.
The situation between the US and Cuba remains complex, with both countries having significant differences on issues such as human rights, democracy, and economic development. As the US continues to apply pressure on Cuba, it remains to be seen how the situation will evolve in the coming months and years.
Key points
- Trump jokes about sending Marco Rubio to Cuba on an aircraft carrier amid heightened tensions between Washington and Havana.
- The US and Cuba have had a strained relationship for decades, with the US maintaining an economic embargo on the island.
- Marco Rubio, as Secretary of State, has been directly involved in shaping US policy towards Cuba.
