United Nations — A tense confrontation erupted Tuesday in the General Assembly chamber when U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz and Cuban officials exchanged heated words, with Waltz posting video of the incident on social media.
In the footage, Cuban officials can be seen standing near the podium where Waltz was delivering remarks. Waltz is heard telling one of them to “back away from this podium,” adding, “He's not going to intimidate me in the United States of America like he tries to intimidate political prisoners.” He then shouted, “I'm the representative of the United States of America. Back up!”
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez shot back, “You are a liar!” The exchange continued with more shouts before Waltz urged the delegation to “please sit down. Bye. Sit down.”
Waltz, who previously served as national security adviser, took to X to share the video, writing that Cuban officials can “think again about trying that nonsense in the United States of America.” He accused the “Castro regime” of profiting at the expense of the Cuban people, citing luxury cars, expensive watches, and a private island resort. “As I shared this with the world, regime thugs rushed the stage to interrupt my speech,” he added.
In subsequent posts, Waltz described the Cuban diplomats as “so called 'diplomats'” who were “melting down at the first hint of criticism in the middle of the UN,” and compared their behavior to what happens to dissidents under Cuba's “iron fist” at home.
Rodríguez fired back on X, accusing Waltz of forgetting he is at the United Nations, not at the US National Security Council, a Green Berets unit, or a Signal group where he has shown “incompetence and incapacity.” The Cuban foreign minister called the US remarks “crude lies” and a “desperate attempt” to justify economic aggression and a “criminal energy siege” against Cuba. He insisted there is no pretext for the “collective punishment” of the Cuban people.
The diplomatic breach comes amid escalating tensions between Washington and Havana. The Trump administration has imposed crushing sanctions and an energy blockade on Cuba, leading to severe shortages and widespread blackouts. Officials have suggested Cuba's regime could be the next to fall, following the capture of former Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in January and the start of the Iran war on Feb. 28. The late Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Cuba was “next” after the conflict began.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Fox News last month, “Well, the truth is Cuba has already fallen. It does not have a functional economy, and it is governed by people who continue to preach about some revolution that has been dead for 20 years. It's never worked.”
The incident underscores the fraying of diplomatic norms at the world body, as the US continues to press for regime change in Havana. The CIA cooperation appeal from Rubio earlier this year highlighted the administration's focus on destabilizing the Cuban government. Meanwhile, the State Department's probe of diplomatic votes suggests internal tensions within the foreign policy apparatus.
The clash also drew attention to the broader context of US-Cuba relations, with critics of the administration pointing to the humanitarian impact of sanctions. The ethics scandals within Trumpworld have further complicated the administration's credibility on the world stage.
