On Friday night, November 6, former U.S. President Donald Trump once again jested about the idea of dropping Secretary of State Marco Rubio into Cuba via parachute to "handle" the island's situation.
This comment surfaced during Trump's participation at the CPAC Circle Retreat and Gala, a private assembly of the American conservative movement held at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida. The moment was captured in a video posted by the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on their official X account.
"We're going to parachute him into Cuba, and Marco will fix it. He'll fix it. His parents were born in Cuba, so it's a great story," Trump quipped.
The former president praised Rubio as "the best Secretary of State" and highlighted his Cuban heritage. The remark was made without any accompanying announcements of military actions or specific policies concerning the island.
The CPAC meeting, held from November 4 to November 7, gathered political leaders, donors, and members of the American conservative movement at Mar-a-Lago.
CPAC Gathering Amidst Political Shifts
During the event on Friday, Rubio himself spoke, along with Stephen Miller, who was appointed as the new White House Chief of Staff, replacing Susie Wiles, effective November 9.
Miller delivered his first public speech following his appointment, where he declared that the United States would not exist without Trump and pledged his "absolute loyalty." The meeting occurred just three days after the November 3 midterm elections, where Republicans lost control of both houses of Congress.
Trump's Continued Jokes About Rubio and Cuba
This isn't the first time Trump has painted an image of sending Rubio to Cuba. He started painting this scenario as far back as May 2026, when he proposed moving the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier within 100 yards of the Cuban coast after concluding U.S. military operations against Iran.
In September, during the United Nations General Assembly week in New York, he suggested leaving Rubio in Cuba from an aircraft carrier to "handle the rest." On October 23, during a rally in Fort Myers, Florida, he imagined U.S. ships passing 50 yards from the Cuban coast with the Secretary of State tasked with "closing the deal."
Four days later, on October 27, at a rally in Corpus Christi, Texas, Trump first introduced the parachute imagery: "We're going to parachute him in, just drop him, and he'll fix it." That comment, where he invited Rubio to the stage amid cheers from the crowd, took place during a campaign tour in Texas.
On November 1, during a rally in Salina, Kansas, Trump joked again about the Secretary of State, this time pretending he might fire him for becoming "too popular." "If he gets any more popular, I'm going to say: 'You're fired!'" he remarked, laughing after inviting Rubio to the stage.
Political Implications for Rubio
Friday's comments at Mar-a-Lago came at a politically crucial time for Rubio. Following the November 3 midterm elections, rumors circulated about his potential departure from the government to prepare for a presidential run in 2028.
The State Department dismissed these as "completely unfounded fake news," while the White House labeled them as "false and unfounded conspiracy theories."
Rubio himself refuted the rumors in an interview with The New York Times, published just before the event: "Working for President Trump until the end of his term has always been my plan," he affirmed.
Trump's renewed praise for Rubio during the CPAC meeting serves as another public endorsement for the Secretary of State amid the speculations about his political future.
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, simultaneously holds the positions of Secretary of State and National Security Advisor since September 22. He has played a central role in Washington's maximum pressure policy towards Havana. A profile published by The Guardian in May depicted the fall of the Cuban regime as one of the main goals of his political career and a possible defining element of his legacy.
On October 26, Rubio was more explicit about the U.S. stance: "Cuba needs a very drastic change," he stated to reporters, while distinguishing the island's situation from the political process in Venezuela.
Despite Trump's repeated jokes about aircraft carriers and parachutes, and his consistent linkage of Cuba's future to the conclusion of U.S. operations in Iran, none of these declarations have been accompanied by a public military order or an official operational plan to intervene on the island.
The former president has also not clarified what specific role Rubio would play in a potential agreement or political transition in Cuba.
Key Questions About Trump's Comments and Cuba
What was the context of Trump's joke about Marco Rubio and Cuba?
Trump made the joke during a CPAC event at Mar-a-Lago, in a humorous context, without any serious plans for military action or policy changes towards Cuba.
Has Trump suggested sending Rubio to Cuba before?
Yes, Trump has previously joked about sending Rubio to Cuba, using imagery of aircraft carriers and parachutes since at least May 2026.
What role does Marco Rubio currently hold in the government?
Marco Rubio is serving as both Secretary of State and National Security Advisor as of September 22, playing a key role in U.S. policy towards Cuba.