Rubio Urges Cubans to Partner With CIA as Trump Floats Deal
Trump suggested deploying U.S. naval ships near the island before sending the Secretary of State to finalize an agreement.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged Cubans seeking political change Friday to discreetly cooperate with the CIA as President Donald Trump separately floated sending Rubio to the communist-run island to negotiate a deal.
“To those who seek to create positive change in Cuba – now is the time,” Rubio wrote in a post on X.
“The disappointment of failed promises, corruption, and the privileged lives of only a few; seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discrete partnership with the CIA.”
Rubio’s message explicitly encouraged Cubans to work with the U.S. intelligence agency but did not identify a specific operation or explain what such cooperation would involve. The CIA has a long and complex history of clandestine operations on the island dating back to the Cold War, making any public invitation to collaborate an unusually direct approach for American diplomacy.
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants, has long advocated for a tougher U.S. approach toward the Cuban government.
The former Florida senator has been a prominent critic of the communist leadership in Havana and opposed efforts to normalize relations without political reforms.
Trump, meanwhile, raised the possibility of U.S. ships stopping near Cuba while discussing Iran during a midterm rally in Fort Myers, Florida, Friday.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US President Donald Trump speak to the press following US military actions in Venezuela, at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Fla., Jan. 3, 2026. (Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images)
“Don’t worry. We’ll take care of Cuba on our way back from Iran with it. We’ll do a little stopover now. We’ll do a little stopover,” Trump told the crowd.
“Actually, what we’re going to do with Cuba is we’re going to come back from Iran. Those beautiful ships will pass Cuba. We’ll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast. They’ll raise up their hands.”
Trump then suggested Rubio could handle negotiations with the communist-run island.
“And then we’re going to send Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal. We’ll have Marco. Marco. We don’t even have to stop. We could just put him in there and he’ll figure it out. He’s a great guy.”
Trump did not provide details about any proposed agreement with Cuba or indicate whether his remarks reflected an actual military or diplomatic plan.
