During a rally at the Alico Arena at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Donald Trump humorously suggested deploying warships off the coast of Cuba as he rallied Republican support ahead of the November 3 legislative elections.
In a light-hearted yet provocative response to a question, Trump painted a scenario where U.S. ships returning from Iran would make a stop near the Cuban shores.
"We'll come back from Iran with those beautiful ships, pass by Cuba, and have one stop about 50 yards from the coast," remarked the former president.
"They'll raise their hands, and then we'll send Marco Rubio to seal the deal," he added.
The notion of "raising hands" might be interpreted in two ways: as an expression of gratitude from the Cuban people for the presence of American ships, or as a sign of surrender from the Cuban authorities.
The 50 yards mentioned by Trump translates to a mere 46 meters from the Cuban coast, symbolizing, for many, the dream of seeing the island liberated from dictatorship.
The crowd erupted in applause following Trump's remarks, with him further stating that there'd be no need to stop the ships: "We can just leave them there, and he'll handle it. He's a great guy."
The Fort Myers rally was held to support Byron Donalds, the Republican candidate for Florida governor, as the legislative campaign reached its final stages.
This isn't the first time Trump has used such rhetoric. Back in 2026, the first mention of this scenario was during a private dinner at the Forum Club in West Palm Beach on May 1, where he suggested sending the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier to 100 yards off the Cuban coast after completing operations in Iran.
The second mention occurred on September 22 during the "Shield of the Americas" summit in New York, where Trump joked about taking Rubio to Cuba on an aircraft carrier and leaving him there to "sort out the rest."
Secretary of State Rubio, whose parents immigrated from Cuba, frequently features in these scenarios, highlighting the symbolic importance of the Cuban-American community in the Republican electoral strategy in Florida.
On September 29, Rubio commented in a television interview that the Cuban regime "has already fallen" and emphasized the island's need for a democratic transition.
Trump's Remarks on Cuba and Their Implications
What did Trump propose regarding Cuba during the rally?
Trump joked about deploying U.S. warships near Cuba, suggesting they could stop 50 yards from the coast, symbolizing potential liberation from dictatorship.
How did Trump's audience react to his comments?
The audience responded with enthusiastic applause to Trump's remarks about sending ships close to Cuba.
Why is Marco Rubio frequently mentioned in these scenarios?
Marco Rubio is often mentioned due to his Cuban heritage and the symbolic significance of the Cuban-American community in Florida's Republican strategy.