Rubio's public appeal
Secretary of State Marco Rubio publicly encouraged Cubans who want political change to cooperate with the Central Intelligence Agency, according to CBS News. He posted the message on X on Friday. CBS described it as the latest step in a widening Trump administration campaign aimed at removing Cuba's communist government from power.
Rubio wrote that "now is the time" for those who want to "create positive change in Cuba." He pointed to disappointment over unfulfilled promises, corruption and the comfortable lives of a small few. He urged Cubans to use the moment to pursue the change they want through what he called a discreet partnership with the CIA.
The CIA amplifies the message
Soon after Rubio's post, the CIA reposted it, CBS reported. The agency also shared a similar appeal in Spanish directed at Cubans, inviting them to work with the intelligence service.
A video accompanied the message. According to CBS, it lays out the steps a person would follow to get in touch with the agency. The report did not detail what those steps involve or say how many people, if any, had responded.
Economic pressure on the island
The appeal comes against a backdrop of heavy economic pressure. CBS reported that a strict U.S. embargo and sanctions, intended to squeeze Cuba's government, have contributed to sharply higher prices for basic goods and reduced access to medical care for ordinary Cubans. Residents have described waiting hours in bread lines, and others have described queuing to see a doctor.
Last week, the U.S. government announced further economic sanctions targeting Cuba's state-run bank. Washington said the institution had ties to Iran, according to CBS.
Trump's remarks and Havana's reply
President Trump addressed Cuba on Friday at a campaign rally in South Florida. CBS reported that he said, "we'll take care of Cuba on our way back from Iran." The comment referred to U.S. Navy warships currently deployed near the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump went on to describe a scenario in which the vessels would travel past Cuba. "We'll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast," he said, adding that Rubio would then be sent in to finish the deal. The remarks were reported by CBS as spoken at the rally, and the report offered no further explanation of what he meant.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla answered on X the same day. "We reject any threats stemming from U.S. ambitions toward Cuba," he wrote. He added that the island's shores, though lined with beautiful beaches, are also rugged and inhospitable to those who arrive with hostile intentions and a desire for domination.
What remains unclear
The source material does not say whether the administration has a specific operational plan tied to the CIA appeal, or how the agency would protect Cubans who respond. It also does not describe any Cuban government response to the video itself beyond the foreign minister's statement.
What is clear from the reporting is that the administration is combining public messaging, financial sanctions and pointed rhetoric in its approach to Havana, while Cuban officials publicly reject that approach. Further developments will depend on actions that have not yet been announced.
