A fiery confrontation at the United Nations has ended with the Trump administration ordering a Cuban diplomat out of the United States after he allegedly shoved an American official during a heated exchange with U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz.
Waltz revealed Tuesday night that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had signed paperwork to expel the Cuban representative following a chaotic shouting match on the floor of the United Nations General Assembly.
The confrontation erupted as Waltz criticized Cuba’s communist leadership, prompting an angry response from Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla and other members of the country’s delegation.
Appearing on Fox News’ Hannity, Waltz made clear that the Trump administration would not tolerate the alleged physical confrontation.
“He’s gone. He is going to be on a plane to Havana within the next 24 hours,” Waltz told host Sean Hannity, according to Mediaite.
“You lay a hand on an American here in the United States, President Trump, Secretary Rubio and myself, we’re not going to stand for it,” he added.
Heated UN Showdown Spirals Out of Control
The diplomatic fireworks began Tuesday as Waltz addressed the General Assembly ahead of a vote on a resolution condemning the longstanding U.S. economic embargo against Cuba.
During his remarks, Waltz accused Cuba’s ruling elite of enjoying lavish lifestyles while ordinary citizens struggled with poverty, shortages and economic hardship.
His criticism quickly drew an angry response.
Members of the Cuban delegation began shouting objections and demanding that Waltz be called to order. Rodríguez Parrilla eventually approached the front of the assembly, accusing the American ambassador of lying.
Waltz refused to back down.
“I’m the representative of the United States of America. Back up,” Waltz declared, according to The National.
“This isn’t Havana. You’re not going to intimidate me,” he added.
The confrontation grew so heated that General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman temporarily suspended proceedings to restore order.
Cuban Diplomat Accused of Crossing the Line
But the shouting match was only part of the controversy.
Waltz later accused another member of the Cuban delegation of physically confronting an American diplomat who was documenting the incident.
Video shared by the ambassador appeared to show a Cuban official placing his hand over an American diplomat’s phone as the confrontation unfolded.
Waltz alleged that the representative also attempted to intimidate UN personnel into cutting off microphones during his speech.
According to Waltz, the official was the first secretary of Cuba’s delegation and had shoved and attempted to assault an American diplomat.
The ambassador said Rubio had already authorized the official’s removal from the country.
The reported expulsion represents a significant escalation in the dispute. Waltz’s announcement established that the administration had ordered the diplomat’s departure, although his actual departure had not yet been independently confirmed.
Washington and Havana Face Off Again
The confrontation comes amid escalating tensions between the Trump administration and Cuba’s communist government.
Washington has intensified economic pressure on Havana, including measures targeting countries that supply the island with oil.
Cuba has blamed American sanctions for worsening economic conditions, while U.S. officials argue that decades of government mismanagement and repression are responsible for much of the country’s suffering.
The dispute has also spilled into the United Nations, where Cuba has repeatedly sought international condemnation of the American embargo.
The General Assembly was scheduled to vote Wednesday on its annual resolution calling for an end to the restrictions. Although the measure is nonbinding, it has historically attracted overwhelming international support.
Tuesday’s confrontation followed another public clash between American and Cuban representatives at the UN the previous week, underscoring the increasingly hostile relationship between the two governments.
For Waltz, however, the latest episode was about more than diplomatic disagreements.
The ambassador said Cuban representatives had attempted to intimidate American officials on U.S. soil — and warned that the Trump administration was prepared to impose consequences.
