Trump muses about Rubio running Cuba, tells Havana to ‘make a deal’ before it’s too late

US President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, December 2, 2025, in Washington, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth look on. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)
US President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting at the White House, December 2, 2025, in Washington, as Secretary of State Marco Rubio (L) and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth look on. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

US President Donald Trump reposts a social media message suggesting that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, born to Cuban immigrant parents, should become the next leader of Cuba.

Trump republishes a message on his Truth Social platform from user Cliff Smith, posted on January 8, that read “Marco Rubio will be president of Cuba,” accompanied by a crying-laughing emoji.

Trump’s comment on the repost is “Sounds good to me!”

The largely unknown user, whose bio refers to him as a “conservative Californian” has fewer than 500 followers.

Trump’s repost comes a week after US forces seized Venezuela’s authoritarian leader Nicolas Maduro in a nighttime operation in Caracas that killed dozens of Venezuelan and Cuban security forces.

He also urges Cuba on Sunday to “make a deal” or face unspecified consequences, warning that the flow of Venezuelan oil and money to Havana would now stop.

“THERE WILL BE NO MORE OIL OR MONEY GOING TO CUBA – ZERO!” Trump posts on Truth Social. “I strongly suggest they make a deal, BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.”

Rubio is also the US national security adviser and chief archivist.

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