On Tuesday, President Donald Trump made informal yet politically significant remarks about Cuba during the second summit of the "Shield of the Americas" held at the UN headquarters in New York. He praised his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, as the person holding the key to understanding the situation on the island.
“What can I say about Cuba? They had another blackout last night. They don’t have enough for the lights. I don’t know what’s happening with Cuba, but it doesn’t look good,” Trump commented to the leaders gathered at the summit. His casual tone did not mask the seriousness of his assessment.
Taking the opportunity to mention Rubio's family background, Trump said, “Marco’s parents were born in Cuba, second generation, he wants to figure it all out, right Marco? He wants to know exactly what’s going on there. I think he’s already figured it out.”
The banter went further as Trump jokingly suggested that someone could "drop off" Rubio in the middle of Cuba on the way back from Iran, aboard an aircraft carrier, to "figure out the rest."
He concluded his remarks with direct praise: "His parents were born there, and now look at the position he holds, Secretary of State, doing a fantastic job."
These comments came just hours after Trump, in his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly, labeled Cuba as a "completely failed state" and predicted it would "collapse."
The Cuban delegation, led by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, walked out in protest during that speech.
Trump also claimed before the General Assembly that Rubio "is leading the negotiations" with Havana, a statement that the Cuban foreign minister has flatly denied, calling the U.S. President's remarks "falsehoods and slanders." Rodríguez Parrilla has insisted that "there have been no negotiations, nor are there any agreements or roadmaps."
Trump's mention of Cuban blackouts is not mere rhetoric: Cuba has experienced at least eight total collapses of the National Electric System so far in 2026, the most recent just days ago, between September 18 and 19.
The island's economy is projected to shrink by 10.3% this year according to ECLAC, marking the worst decline in Latin America, with blackouts lasting up to 22 hours a day.
Key Players Gather at the Summit
The Shield of the Americas summit, which Trump described as "the largest and most powerful alliance for economic and national security ever convened in the Western Hemisphere," brought together leaders such as Javier Milei (Argentina), Nayib Bukele (El Salvador), Daniel Noboa (Ecuador), Luis Abinader (Dominican Republic), Santiago Peña (Paraguay), and Rodrigo Chaves (Costa Rica), among others. Mexico and Colombia were not invited, despite being historically involved in the fight against regional drug trafficking.
The Trump administration has imposed over two dozen sanctions against Cuba since January 2026, including measures against the military sector and nickel announced on September 17.
Rubio, the first Cuban-American to hold the position of Secretary of State and the son of immigrants who left the island in 1956, has been the main architect of this maximum pressure policy.
Foreign Minister Rodríguez Parrilla is scheduled to address the General Assembly on September 26 to deliver the Cuban regime's official response to Trump's statements.
Insight into U.S.-Cuba Relations
What did Trump say about Cuba at the UN summit?
Trump commented on ongoing blackouts in Cuba, suggesting the island is struggling and praised Marco Rubio for understanding the situation.
How did the Cuban delegation react to Trump's speech?
The Cuban delegation, led by Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla, walked out in protest during Trump's address at the UN General Assembly.
What is Marco Rubio's role in U.S. policy towards Cuba?
Marco Rubio, as Secretary of State, is a key figure in the U.S.'s maximum pressure policy on Cuba, having been instrumental in crafting sanctions.