On Saturday, the official State Department account on X highlighted three posts about Cuba in a span of just 15 minutes, including a video from Fox News where a commentator asserts, "This is the Donroe Doctrine in action."
The text continued, "First comes the speech, and Secretary Rubio lays it out. When socialism and communism are knocking at our door, and nothing is closer than Cuba, the president takes action."
The State Department's three retweets featured headlines from Fox News and Breitbart, related to Secretary of State Marco Rubio's call for Cubans to cooperate "discreetly with the CIA," thus turning the institutional amplification into an implicit endorsement of the Trump administration's foreign policy characterization.
This episode is the latest link in a series of coordinated actions. On October 23, at a rally in Fort Myers, Florida, President Donald Trump jokingly suggested that military ships returning from Iran could stop just 50 yards off the Cuban coast: "They'll raise their hands, and then we'll send Marco Rubio in to close the deal. We don't even have to stop. We can just drop him in, and he'll handle it. He's a great guy."
That same evening, Rubio directed a message to the Cuban people on X: "To those seeking positive change in Cuba, now is the time. The disillusionment of broken promises, the corruption in the privileged lives of a few: seize this opportunity to create the change you want through a discreet partnership with the CIA."
The following day, the CIA echoed this message on its official account in Spanish, accompanied by a video and a seven-step operational guide on Instagram, which included digital security instructions like using a VPN outside of Cuba, Russia, Iran, or China, and creating disposable emails.
Hours later, SOUTHCOM joined in with a quote from its commander, General Francis L. Donovan: "The future of Cuba belongs to those who act. Seize the moment and build the change you wish to see."
Analysts have described the public coordination between the State Department, the CIA, and SOUTHCOM as unprecedented, marking the first instance of a Secretary of State openly calling for the recruitment of collaborators in a foreign country via social media.
The Cuban regime responded mockingly. Deputy Foreign Minister Carlos Fernández de Cossío likened the CIA's offer to toothpaste ads, while Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla warned, "Our coasts have beautiful beaches, but also sharp reefs."
In contrast, Cuban-American Congressman Carlos A. Giménez praised the initiative: "The regime in Havana should be consigned to the dustbin of history, and I know that day is closer than ever."
The "Donroe Doctrine"—a term that merges Donald Trump's name with the historic Monroe Doctrine—has gained traction in 2026 as a descriptor for Trump's hemispheric pressure policy against Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, although it is not formally adopted by the State Department.
The context of this escalation includes key developments: last August, the New York Times disclosed the creation of a secret CIA task force exclusively for Cuba, elevated to "Priority 1" status, on par with China, Iran, and Russia.
The Fort Myers rally was held in the context of the upcoming November 3, 2026, legislative elections, adding an electoral dimension to the Cuba statements: Trump secured 68% of the Cuban-American vote in Florida during the 2024 elections, according to Reuters.
Understanding the Donroe Doctrine and Its Impact on Cuba
What is the Donroe Doctrine?
The Donroe Doctrine is a term that combines Donald Trump's name with the historic Monroe Doctrine, used to describe Trump's strategy of applying hemispheric pressure on countries like Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua.
How did the State Department and CIA coordinate their messages on Cuba?
The State Department and CIA coordinated by amplifying each other's messages on social media, with the State Department retweeting posts from Fox News and Breitbart, and the CIA echoing Secretary Rubio's call for discreet collaboration with the CIA.
What was the Cuban government's response to these actions?
The Cuban government responded with mockery, comparing the CIA's recruitment efforts to toothpaste advertisements and warning of the dangers along their coasts.