Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signed paperwork ordering the expulsion of a Cuban diplomat from the United States following a confrontation at the United Nations, U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz announced.
The official, Richard Tur de la Concepción, is the First Secretary of Cuba’s mission to the United Nations. He is accused of shoving an American diplomat and trying to grab his phone during a clash at UN headquarters.
"He's gone. He is going to be on a plane to Havana within the next 24 hours," Waltz said in an interview with Fox News.
"You lay a hand on an American here in the United States, President Trump, Secretary Rubio and myself, we're not gonna stand for it," added the ambassador.
More than half of his heart, as they say, will soon be back in Havana.
Mike Waltz reveals on 'Hannity' that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has signed paperwork to expel a Cuban diplomat accused of shoving and attempting to assault an American diplomat.
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 28, 2026
"He's gone. He is going to be on a plane to Havana within the next 24 hours," Waltz says.
The… pic.twitter.com/4TBHh4sl6i
Hopefully they toss a T-shirt on this guy that says 'I got in Mike Waltz's face and all I got was this stupid T-shirt' or some such variation.
Bye, Felicia. Don't let the door hit ya.
During a heated debate at the United Nations over the longstanding U.S. embargo on Cuba, Ambassador Waltz accused the Cuban regime of enriching its elites at the expense of ordinary citizens.
His comments — which were accurate — prompted Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla to interrupt the speech. So upset was he that Parrilla approached the podium and called Waltz a liar.
Waltz immediately blasted the minister, saying he would not intimidate him in America the way the communist regime tries to intimidate its political prisoners.
"And I'm the representative of the United States of America," he shouted. "Back up!"
"Back away. This isn't Havana. You're not going to intimidate me," Waltz added. "Do you understand who you're dealing with?"
NEW: @USAmbUN Mike Waltz just got into a shouting match on the floor of the general assembly with Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla
— Josh Christenson (@jchristenson_) October 27, 2026
"He's not going to intimidate me in the United States of America, like he tries to intimidate political prisoners," Waltz… pic.twitter.com/DgZZ4v8w7w
Concepción understands. Or at least he will shortly. And he'll be back in his element, back in Havana, quite soon.
While Waltz and the other Commie official were exchanging heated words, Concepción allegedly tried to grab the phone of the ambassador's spokesman, J.P. Freire, as he recorded the exchange.
The New York Post described the incident as an "assault."
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. https://t.co/kmBlpMlPcY
— Ambassador Mike Waltz (@USAmbUN) October 27, 2026
Cuban officials have not yet publicly responded to the expulsion order.
The White House, following the incident with Waltz, his team, and the Cuban delegation, posted a cartoon image of the showdown captioned, "Not in the United States of America."
Concepción won't be in the United States of America at all.
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