Following the arrest of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, who has been transported to New York City to face charges, Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested that the Cuban government could become a focus for the Trump administration.
Rubio’s comments came just one day after Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, arrived in the U.S. to confront accusations of involvement in a narco-terrorism conspiracy. The Department of Justice indictment describes Maduro as leading a “corrupt, illegitimate government” that exploited state power to facilitate drug trafficking and enrich Venezuela’s political and military elite.
Appearing on Meet the Press, Rubio issued a sharp warning to Cuba. When journalist Kristen Welker asked whether the Cuban government might be the Trump administration’s next target, Rubio replied, “Well, the Cuban government is a huge problem. I think they’re in a lot of trouble, yes.”
Rubio, whose parents fled Cuba, further claimed that Venezuelan intelligence is “full of Cubans” and argued that Cuba had effectively “taken over” parts of Venezuela’s security apparatus. Speaking from Mar-a-Lago, he said, “Venezuelans in some cases have had to declare independence from Cuba. They tried to colonize it from a security standpoint. If I were in Havana and part of the government, I would be concerned.”
President Trump also commented on Cuba during a Saturday news briefing, describing it as a “failing nation” and emphasizing that the U.S. wants to support both the Cuban people and Cuban exiles living in America.
The Cuban government has not formally responded to Rubio’s statements, but it has historically expressed strong support for Maduro’s regime. Officials condemned recent U.S. operations in Caracas, declaring, “All nations of the region must remain alert, as the threat hangs over all. In Cuba, our determination to struggle is firm and unwavering. The decision is one and only one: Homeland or Death.”
Meanwhile, Venezuela faces uncertainty at home. Vice President Delcy Rodriguez was appointed interim president after Maduro’s detention, although she initially resisted taking the role. She has called on the Trump administration to release Maduro and Flores, insisting, “There is only one president in Venezuela, and his name is Nicolás Maduro Moros.”
President Trump, however, announced that the U.S. would oversee Venezuela during the transition, including plans to rebuild the nation’s oil infrastructure with private investment.
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