Trump Says US Warships Could Stop Near Cuba, Threatens ‘Another Little Epic Fury’

US President Donald Trump has revived his threat of military intervention in Cuba, suggesting that American warships returning from the war with Iran could stop near the island before Secretary of State Marco Rubio steps in to negotiate a deal.

Speaking at a rally in South Florida on Friday, Trump responded to a question shouted by a member of the crowd about Cuba. His remarks came days before the US midterm elections, as voters grappled with rising prices of essential goods, including fuel and groceries, amid the war with Iran.

“We’ll do a little stopover,” Trump said in a 90-minute speech in Fort Myers. “Actually, what we’re going to do with Cuba is, we’re going to come back from Iran. Those beautiful ships will pass Cuba. We’ll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast. They’ll raise up their hands. And then we’re going to send (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal.”

Hinting at military action if negotiations fail, Trump said, “We may do another little Epic Fury, or they'll agree.”

Questioning Iran’s strategic judgement, Trump added, “If they’re smart, they’ll just say, ‘Let’s get down to business.’ But, you know, I doubt they’ll do that because perhaps they’re not smart.”

Cuba’s Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez rejected Trump’s remarks, condemning what he described as US ambitions towards the island.

In a post on X, Rodríguez wrote, “We reject every threat related to US ambitions toward Cuba. Our coastline is full of beautiful beaches, but there are also razor-sharp limestone spikes, an inhospitable environment for those who make it to our shores with hostile purposes and lust for domination.”

Trump and Rubio have intensified pressure on Cuba’s communist government, with the US announcing criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro in May. Trump said previous presidents had considered intervening in Cuba for decades, adding, “it looks like I’ll be the one that does it”. Following Trump’s latest remarks, Rubio urged action, calling on those seeking change in Cuba to pursue it through a “discreet partnership with the CIA ”. Despite the threats, US and Cuban officials have held talks in recent months, but Washington has expressed dissatisfaction and imposed further sanctions. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly last month, Trump said Rubio was “deep into negotiations with Cuba”, adding that he expected the countries to reach a deal without military intervention. However, the two countries clashed at the UN this week over Washington’s decades-old economic embargo against Havana. Meanwhile, Cuba continues to face a severe economic and energy crisis, marked by power cuts, food shortages, rising prices and public protests. The crisis has also prompted hundreds of thousands of Cubans to leave the country, many heading to the United States.