Rubio Calls on Cubans to Act as Trump Talks of Warships

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents Rubio Calls on Cubans to Act as Trump Talks of Warships.

On 23 October 2026, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio directly urged Cubans who want political change in their country to act: “Now is the time.” A few minutes earlier, Donald Trump had said at a campaign event for candidates in South Florida that US warships could intervene in Cuba upon their return from the Iran war. Trump thus raised the possibility of military action, while Rubio called on Cubans to take the next step.

Rubio expressed his demand in a social media post. He explicitly directed the message to people who want to bring about positive change and linked his demand to Trump’s statement.

For people in Cuba, this is a direct political message: Washington acknowledges the discontent in the country, presents military options and names the CIA. Concrete steps, responsibilities or a timetable nevertheless remain unspecified in the available information.

Trump’s Remark About Warships: A Possibility, Not a Reported Deployment

Trump’s specific statement

Trump said at a campaign event for candidates in South Florida that US warships could intervene in Cuba if they returned from the Iran war. The wording is crucial: The Guardian reports a possible intervention, not an actual dispatch or already-decided military action.

Rubio’s reaction

Rubio immediately picked up the statement. According to the report, he said: “Now is the time.” He encouraged Cubans to seize this opportunity. In doing so, he combined the military rhetoric with a direct appeal to the population.

Rubio Cites Failed Promises, Corruption and the CIA

Direct appeal

In his post, Rubio addressed “those who want to bring about positive change”. He referred to disappointment over failed promises, corruption and the privileged living conditions of a small group.

“The disappointment over failed promises, corruption and the privileged living conditions of a small group: Use this opportunity to create the change you want through a covert partnership with the CIA.”

What the reference to the CIA establishes

Rubio explicitly names a covert partnership with the CIA in his statement. The report, however, does not explain what tasks this partnership is supposed to encompass, nor which practical or legal prerequisites are identified for it. What is established are Rubio’s call for action and his linking of the change he seeks to the CIA.

For Cubans, a US Statement Becomes a Call to Action

Rubio focuses on the issues he himself cites as reasons for political change: failed promises, corruption and the privileged living conditions of a small group. At the same time, he refers to Trump’s statement and the CIA. His message is therefore aimed not only at governments or observers, but explicitly at people in Cuba who want change.

For this target group, the real significance of the statements lies in this combination: A US government is discussing a possible military deployment, while the secretary of state is calling on the population to seize a political opportunity. This documents clear support from Washington, but not yet a concrete military or intelligence operation.

What Is Established — and What Is Not

According to the report, three points are established: Trump mentioned a possible deployment of US warships in Cuba, Rubio urged the Cuban population to act and invoked a covert partnership with the CIA.

There is no evidence, however, of an actual dispatch of the warships, a concrete start to any intervention or the CIA’s exact practical role. The available evidence thus establishes an escalation in the statements and a direct appeal to Cubans, but not yet their implementation.