U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said a tense encounter with Cuban officials nearly became physical. On “The Sunday Briefing,” he alleged that a Cuban diplomat shoved one of his staff members and knocked a phone from his hand before being sent back to Cuba. Waltz said Secretary of State Marco Rubio made the decision to expel the diplomat.
Waltz described the confrontation as he spoke at the U.N. General Assembly, where he had accused Cuba’s government of enriching its leaders while ordinary people struggled. He said Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla left his seat and moved toward the podium as Waltz was speaking.
Waltz said the incident happened in front of diplomats and the wider international community, and argued that it raised questions about how the Cuban government treats its people behind closed doors.
He said he had displayed images of former Cuban President Fidel Castro’s private island and jet, along with examples of luxury goods and holidays he attributed to current regime leaders. Waltz accused Cuba of using the U.N. to spread propaganda and shift blame onto the United States.
To support his accusations, Waltz cited a 100-page report by Rubio titled “Cuba: The Capital of 21st Century Communism.” The report alleges that Cuba operates espionage and influence campaigns in the United States. Waltz also accused the Cuban government of promoting Marxist ideas through left-wing groups and elected officials, and linked unrest in the U.S. to decades of Cuban influence.
Waltz predicted that Cuba would become free during President Trump’s term.
