U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied a report that officials under the United States government urged Cuba to remove its president, Miguel Díaz‑Canel, from power. Rubio took to X (formerly Twitter) late Tuesday to reject the article by The New York Times as “fake,” accusing it of relying on “charlatans and liars claiming to be in the know.”
The newspaper’s report suggested that U.S. officials viewed Díaz‑Canel as a hardliner unlikely to enact meaningful change and had broached the idea of his removal — though not a full overthrow of the communist government. Rubio did not clarify whether he was rejecting the overall story or specific parts of it.
The context for the claims comes amid heightened U.S. pressure on Cuba as economic and energy crises deepen on the island. Cuba has faced growing hardship linked to tighter U.S. sanctions, including an effective oil blockade, which has contributed to widespread power outages and shortages. The Cuban government has vowed resistance to any perceived threats to its sovereignty.
Meanwhile, pressure from the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump is focused on forcing political and economic reforms in Cuba rather than direct military action, although statements from U.S. officials have raised speculation about leadership change scenarios.
The broader diplomatic backdrop includes Cuba acknowledging ongoing talks with U.S. representatives, framed as efforts to address bilateral differences and humanitarian impacts of the crisis — though Havana insists on respect for its sovereignty and rejects any external interference.
