'Back away from this podium': U.S. and Cuban officials clash at the United Nations

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz shared a video on Tuesday showing a heated argument between American and Cuban officials at the UN General Assembly. The video captured the moment Cuban officials walked up to the podium while Waltz was giving a speech. The confrontation quickly turned into a shouting match that surprised many people watching.

In the video, Waltz told a Cuban official to 'back away from this podium.' He raised his voice and said that the official was not going to intimidate him the way Cuba's leaders intimidate political prisoners — people locked up for speaking out against the government. He then yelled, 'I'm the representative of the United States of America. Back up!'

Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez shouted back, 'You are a liar!' More back-and-forth shouting followed before Waltz told the Cuban group to 'please sit down.' The scene was unusual because the United Nations is meant to be a place where countries settle disagreements through calm, respectful conversation.

After the incident, Waltz posted the video on the social media platform X. He wrote that Cuban officials should 'think again about trying that nonsense in the United States of America.' He accused Cuba's leaders of living in luxury with expensive cars, watches, and a private island resort while ordinary Cuban people struggle.

Rodríguez responded on X by calling Waltz's statements 'crude lies.' He said the United States was trying to justify what he called unfair economic punishment against Cuba. He argued that the hardships placed on the Cuban people were wrong and had no good reason behind them.

The argument did not come out of nowhere — tensions between the two countries have been rising for months. President Trump has put tough sanctions on Cuba, which are penalties that limit trade and money flowing into the country. He also blocked energy shipments to the island, causing major power outages and hardship for many Cubans.

Trump administration officials have suggested that Cuba's government could be the next to fall, following U.S. actions against Venezuela and Iran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told a TV interviewer last month that Cuba 'already fallen' economically. He said Cuba's leaders keep talking about a revolution that 'has been dead for 20 years' and has never worked.