Politics · United States · 2 hrs ago
US removes Cuban diplomat after clash at United Nations
The Trump administration removed a Cuban diplomat from the United States after a heated exchange at the United Nations.
US Ambassador Mike Waltz accused the diplomat of shoving and trying to assault an American diplomat; Cuba said a US diplomat had invaded the Cuban official’s personal space while filming.
The confrontation happened during a UN debate on the US economic embargo against Cuba, when Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla shouted at each other.
The US says the diplomat is not welcome in the country, while Cuba protested the filming and said it was meant to damage the official’s reputation.
The dispute comes as the Trump administration has increased pressure on Cuba and publicly raised the possibility of US intervention, adding to rising tensions between Washington and Havana.
The UN General Assembly also voted 130 to 17 to condemn the US embargo, with 25 abstentions; the State Department said the Cuban diplomat had left the United States.
The United States removed a Cuban diplomat after a confrontation involving US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz at the UN.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed paperwork to expel the diplomat, whom Waltz accused of shoving and trying to assault a US diplomat.
The confrontation took place during a UN General Assembly debate on the US embargo against Cuba.
Cuba’s UN mission said a US diplomat invaded the Cuban diplomat’s personal space while filming and sought to damage his reputation.
The UN General Assembly later passed a resolution condemning the US embargo, with 130 votes in favor, 17 against and 25 abstentions.
- Who
- The United States removed a Cuban diplomat. The articles identify him as Rolando Vergara Zito, though CNN does not name him.
- What
- The diplomat was expelled after a confrontation involving US Ambassador Mike Waltz at the United Nations.
- When
- The confrontation and announcement took place Tuesday; the State Department said Wednesday that the diplomat had left.
- Where
- The confrontation took place at the United Nations in New York. The diplomat was removed from the United States.
- Why
- Waltz accused the diplomat of shoving and trying to assault a US diplomat. Cuba’s UN mission said a US diplomat invaded the Cuban diplomat’s personal space while filming.
US officials
Cuban UN mission
Account of the filming incident
US officials
Waltz accused the Cuban diplomat of shoving and trying to assault a US diplomat.
Cuban UN mission
The mission said a US diplomat invaded the Cuban diplomat’s personal space to film him and intended to damage his reputation.
Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla had a heated exchange during a UN General Assembly debate on the US embargo against Cuba.
Waltz said Secretary of State Marco Rubio had signed paperwork to expel the Cuban diplomat.
The State Department said the diplomat was no longer welcome in the United States and had left.
The UN General Assembly passed a resolution condemning the US embargo against Cuba, with 130 votes in favor, 17 against and 25 abstentions.
- Diplomat named by Daily Mail
- Rolando Vergara Zito
- US ambassador to the UN
- Mike Waltz
- Secretary of State
- Marco Rubio
- UN embargo resolution
- 130 in favor; 17 against; 25 abstentions
- Destination stated by Waltz
- Havana
3 sources
What people are saying
He’s gone. He’s going to be on a plane to Havana within the next 24 hours
You lay a hand on an American here in the United States, President Trump, Secretary Rubio, and myself, we’re not going to stand for it. There will be consequences
We have made clear to the Cuba Mission that this individual is not welcome in the United States, and as a result this individual has left
Posts on X
One of the Cuban regime’s “diplomats” tried to intimidate UN staff into cutting our microphones as I exposed the regime for the world to see. When one of my American diplomats noticed what was happening, that same regime “diplomat” tried to intimidate him, too.
.@CUBAONU traslada al Secretario General de Naciones Unidas profunda preocupación y la más enérgica protesta por la conducta de acoso, acecho e invasión del espacio personal sostenida por John P. Freire, miembro de la delegación de EEUU, contra el diplomático cubano Richard Tur.