President Donald Trump recently reacted in a surprising way to a social media joke about Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sparking discussion about possible shifts in political dynamics. On Sunday, Trump responded to a post suggesting that Rubio could become president of Cuba, writing simply: “sounds good to me!”
The original post, which circulated on X late last week, read, “Marco Rubio will be president of Cuba,” poking fun at the multiple roles Rubio has taken on while serving as secretary of state. Elon Musk also chimed in on a similar post, joking that Rubio could become “president of Venezuela, governor of Cuba, and the Shah of Iran,” adding that he would “support this 100 [percent].”
The comment comes after the U.S. recently removed Nicolás Maduro from power in Venezuela during a nighttime raid by elite Delta Force commandos. Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, are now in New York awaiting trial on charges of narco-terrorism, to which they have pleaded not guilty. Rubio led the media response following the operation, appearing on Sunday talk shows to explain the U.S. strategy and the steps the country would take after Maduro’s removal.
Trump has also shifted focus to Cuba, a nation heavily dependent on Venezuelan oil. Speaking to reporters on January 3, he said, “Cuba, as you know, is not doing very well right now. That system has not been a very good one for Cuba. The people there have suffered for many, many years, and I think Cuba is going to be something we’ll end up talking about, because Cuba is a failing nation right now.”
On Sunday, Trump expanded on this on Truth Social, posting that Cuba had relied for years on Venezuelan oil and financial support in exchange for “security services” for past Venezuelan dictators but that would no longer continue. He warned that the U.S., as the world’s most powerful military, would protect Venezuela and suggested that Cuba negotiate before it was “too late.”
Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez responded sharply, defending Cuba’s sovereignty and blaming U.S. sanctions for the nation’s economic hardships. He wrote on X, “Cuba is a free, independent, and sovereign nation. No one dictates what we do… Those who blame the Revolution for the severe economic shortages we suffer should hold their tongues out of shame.”
Rubio himself has played a prominent role in the Trump administration, confirmed as secretary of state with a 99-0 Senate vote. Trump described him as “a highly respected leader, and a very powerful voice for freedom,” praising his commitment to U.S. allies and willingness to confront adversaries. Rubio, the first Latino secretary of state and son of Cuban immigrants from Miami, has emphasized protecting the Western Hemisphere from foreign influence, calling it “where we live and we’re not going to allow the Western Hemisphere to be a base of operation for adversaries, competitors, and rivals of the United States.”
In addition to his role as secretary of state, Rubio has also served as acting national security adviser, acting national archivist, and administrator of USAID. Trump has suggested that Rubio, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Vance, and White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller, would lead U.S. efforts in Venezuela following Maduro’s removal, though he stressed that he would remain in ultimate command. Rubio reiterated last week that the U.S. would continue its maximum pressure campaign on Venezuela, focusing on drug trafficking, foreign influence, and oil-sector corruption.
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