‘Sounds good to me’: Trump suggests Rubio as Cuba’s president, issues warning

Amid rising tensions between the US and several Latin American countries, US President Donald Trump said the idea of Secretary of State Marco Rubio becoming the “president of Cuba” sounded good to him. He also warned Havana to strike a deal with Washington before it was too late.

Trump shared a post suggesting Rubio could lead Cuba and added, “Sounds good to me!” There is, however, no indication that the remark reflects any official US policy or diplomatic plan, and appears to be part of Trump’s recent rhetoric on Latin America rather than a concrete proposal.

Backdrop of strained US–Latin America relations

The comment comes during a tense phase in US relations across the Western Hemisphere, following a military operation in Venezuela last week in which President Nicolas Maduro and his wife were captured and flown to the United States on criminal charges.

Trump’s remarks also follow a series of sharp statements targeting the region. Last week, he described Colombia as being “run by a sick man” and appeared to endorse possible US action there, again saying, “Sounds good to me,” when asked about potential operations.

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Comments on Cuba’s economic woes

Trump has also spoken about Cuba’s economic difficulties, claiming the island, which he said depended heavily on Venezuelan oil, was close to collapse. He suggested that a US intervention would not be required under current circumstances.

Trump warns Cuba to strike a deal

In a follow-up post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump said Cuba had for years relied on “large amounts of OIL and MONEY from Venezuela” while providing “security services” to the country’s last two leaders, adding, “BUT NOT ANYMORE!”

He claimed that many Cubans were killed in what he described as last week’s US attack and said Venezuela no longer needed protection from those he called “thugs and extortionists”. Trump asserted that Venezuela now had the protection of the US military and warned that there would be “NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA — ZERO!”, urging Cuban authorities to “make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”

Cuba rejects Trump’s claims

Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez rejected Trump’s statements, saying Cuba has never received money or material compensation for security services provided to other countries. He accused the US of behaving in a “criminal” manner that threatens global peace.

Rodríguez denied claims that Cuba traded security for oil and stressed Havana’s sovereign right to trade for energy. He said Cuba does not rely on mercenarism, blackmail or military coercion, and has the right to import fuel from willing exporters without interference from unilateral US sanctions.

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“Right and justice are on Cuba’s side,” Rodríguez wrote, accusing the US of acting as an uncontrolled hegemon that threatens peace and security globally.

Earlier, Colombian President Gustavo Petro called for Latin American unity in response to what he described as US aggression, urging countries not to become “servants” of foreign powers. Cuban officials have meanwhile condemned any suggestion of outside interference as a violation of national sovereignty.