The U.S. Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, officially signed documents on Wednesday to expel a Cuban diplomat from the country after an alleged physical assault on a U.S. delegation member at the United Nations headquarters in New York. This announcement was made by U.S. Ambassador to the U.N., Mike Waltz, during an appearance on Fox News' "Hannity."
The diplomat in question has been identified by an investigation from elTOQUE as Richard Tur de la Concepción, the First Secretary of Cuba's Permanent Mission to the U.N., overseeing issues related to the Fifth Committee, which handles the organization's budget and administration.
"Just before coming on air tonight, Secretary Rubio signed the documents to deport the diplomat who thought he could—this Cuban diplomat, the first secretary of their delegation—who pushed and attempted to assault one of our American diplomats," Waltz declared on television.
The message was clear: "He is leaving. He will be on a flight to Havana within the next 24 hours. If you lay a hand on an American here in the United States, President Trump, Secretary Rubio, and I will not tolerate it."
This incident took place on Tuesday during the annual General Assembly debate concerning the U.S. embargo on Cuba. As Waltz delivered his speech, Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla left his seat, approaching the podium, prompting General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman to temporarily suspend the session and instruct delegates to return to their seats.
Simultaneously, Tur de la Concepción attempted to seize the phone from Waltz's spokesperson, J.P. Freire, who was recording the confrontation, and took a swipe at him. The event was captured on video and shared by Waltz on his social media platforms.
The U.S. ambassador described the event as typical behavior from Cuban diplomats representing a dictatorship, accusing the regime of using propaganda and intimidation to hide "uncomfortable truths" about its own corruption.
Rodríguez Parrilla, however, labeled Waltz's speech as a "media circus" and shared his own account of the incident on social media, portraying it as a response to Washington's "lies."
This episode occurs amid escalating tensions between the two delegations throughout October. On the 19th, Cuban diplomats led by the permanent representative Ernesto Soberón Guzmán staged a protest at the U.N. against former political prisoners José Daniel Ferrer and Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, shouting "terrorists," "liars," and "get out of the U.N." during a forum organized by the U.S. mission.
Tur de la Concepción's role in the Fifth Committee has been pointed out by Cuban exiles as an attempt by the regime to infiltrate the body and perpetuate irregular practices within the international organization.
The annual General Assembly vote on Cuba's resolution against the embargo—non-binding and introduced each year since 1992—was scheduled for Wednesday. In 2025, it garnered just 165 votes in favor, marking its weakest outcome in two decades, compared to 187 in 2024. Waltz concluded his appearance on Fox News with a warning to the regime: "In one way or another, the Cuban people will see freedom."
Key Questions About the U.S. Expulsion of the Cuban Diplomat
Who is Richard Tur de la Concepción?
Richard Tur de la Concepción is the First Secretary of Cuba's Permanent Mission to the U.N., responsible for matters related to the Fifth Committee, which deals with budget and administration.
What led to the expulsion of the Cuban diplomat?
The diplomat was expelled after allegedly attempting to physically assault a member of the U.S. delegation at the U.N. headquarters in New York.
How has Cuba responded to the allegations?
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla dismissed the incident as a "media circus" and presented an alternative narrative on social media as a counter to what he described as "lies" from Washington.