PARIS March 27, 2026 — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a blunt message to reporters on Friday, declaring that any reporting on Cuba not coming directly from him or President Donald Trump is false. He stressed that the island’s deepening economic crisis cannot be fixed without fundamental changes to its communist system of government.
Speaking to the press on the tarmac in Paris after G7 foreign ministers’ meetings, Rubio responded to questions about U.S. policy toward Havana. He dismissed unofficial sources and rumors circulating in the media.
“Any reporting on Cuba that you didn’t get from me or the President is a liar,” Rubio said. “Because they’re the only people working on it. I’m just warning you guys, all these sources that are pitching you on Cuba don’t know jack. They’re not in the mix.”
Rubio went further, linking Cuba’s economic woes directly to its political system. “Cuba’s economy needs to change, and their economy can’t change unless the system of government changes,” he stated. “It’s that simple. Who’s going to invest billions of dollars in a communist country run by incompetent communists?”
He added: “The only thing worse than the communists is an incompetent communist… Economic change is important, giving people economic and political freedom is important, but they come hand-in-hand.”
Rubio rejected the idea of an economic deal that would leave the current regime intact, saying the issue is not simply about individuals like the Castro family but about the system itself. “There’s no government in a regime that doesn’t work,” he concluded.
The remarks come as Cuba grapples with severe energy shortages, blackouts, and economic hardship. The Trump administration has maintained a hardline approach, tightening pressure on Havana and dismissing recent limited reforms announced by Cuban authorities as inadequate. Rubio has previously called for “dramatic changes” and “new people in charge” to address what he describes as a failing political and economic model.
Rubio, whose parents fled Cuba, has long been a vocal critic of the regime. His latest comments signal that the U.S. will continue to condition any potential easing of sanctions on sweeping reforms in governance, not just economic tweaks.
The full video of Rubio’s exchange with reporters was posted by the State Department on X (formerly Twitter), drawing significant attention and reactions from Cuban-American communities and international observers.
This latest statement underscores the Trump administration’s continued commitment to pressuring the Cuban government for systemic change amid ongoing regional tensions.
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