In a lighthearted moment at the Shields of the Americas event in New York, President Donald Trump quipped about the idea of sending Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to Cuba aboard "one of those big, beautiful aircraft carriers," leaving him there to "handle the rest."
"Someday, in the near future, we'll drop him off in the middle of Cuba, just on the way back from Iran. We'll have one of those big, beautiful aircraft carriers take him, drop him off there, and he'll sort the rest out. He always does," Trump remarked, according to a video released by the State Department.
Highlighting Cuba's Crisis
The jest came as Trump addressed the severe crisis facing the island, turning the spotlight on Rubio and his Cuban heritage.
"What can I say about Cuba? They had another blackout last night. They don't have enough electricity even for the lights. I don't know what's happening with Cuba, but it doesn't look good," he expressed.
He went on to remind the audience that Rubio's parents were born in Cuba. "Marco's parents were born in Cuba. It's a great story, and he wants to understand and solve everything," Trump stated before making the aircraft carrier joke.
The President concluded by praising Rubio: "His parents were born there, and look at the position he holds now: Secretary of State, doing a fantastic job."
Trump's Aircraft Carrier Remarks Resurface
Although this time the mention was made in jest regarding Rubio, the reference has a direct historical precedent. In May, Trump had threatened to send the USS Abraham Lincoln off the Cuban coast following U.S. military operations against Iran.
"On our return from Iran, we’ll send one of our carriers, maybe the Abraham Lincoln, have it come close, stop a hundred meters from the shore, and they’ll say: thank you very much, we surrender," he had said back then.
He revisited the idea days later during an interview, suggesting the carrier could stop "a couple of hundred yards" from Cuba. The repeated mention of "on the way back from Iran" connects both comments, though this time, Trump framed the scenario jokingly without announcing any military operation.
Rubio's Role in U.S.-Cuba Relations
These statements also gain another layer because just hours earlier, during his speech at the United Nations General Assembly, Trump publicly stated that Rubio is involved in talks with Cuba.
"Marco Rubio is handling a negotiation. He is deeply involved in negotiations with Cuba. We'll see what happens," Trump declared before the assembly.
Havana's version has been more nuanced. Early in September, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla acknowledged that "there have been conversations with the State Department" and that communication channels remain open, although he noted that no progress had been made.
Cuba Prominent in Trump's Address
The joke unfolded on the same day Trump labeled Cuba as a "completely failed state" at the UN, asserting that the island's political system "will collapse." The Cuban delegation exited the room during this segment of the speech.
The references to blackouts were no coincidence either. Last Friday, Cuba experienced another nationwide power grid failure, leaving millions without service, adding to a series of similar outages during 2026.
This Tuesday, the Electric Union forecasted a peak hour power shortfall of 2,050 MW, with only 1,180 MW available against an estimated demand of 3,200 MW.
Rubio had also recently commented on this crisis. Early in September, he stated that Cuba's blackouts predate Washington's current measures, attributing part of the issue to the deteriorating electrical infrastructure and the lack of investments.
Trump, Rubio, and U.S.-Cuba Relations: Key Questions
What was the context of Trump's joke about sending Rubio to Cuba?
Trump made the joke during the Shields of the Americas event in New York, humorously suggesting that Rubio, due to his Cuban heritage, could be sent to Cuba on an aircraft carrier to address the island's crises.
How is Marco Rubio involved with Cuba?
Trump revealed that Rubio is engaged in negotiations with Cuba, emphasizing his deep involvement in discussions aimed at addressing the issues between the U.S. and the island nation.
What is the current situation with Cuba's power outages?
Cuba has been experiencing frequent power outages, with the Electric Union recently predicting significant shortages during peak hours. These outages are attributed to the aging electrical infrastructure and lack of investments.