US and Cuban Officials Clash During UN Debate Over Embargo
Reports add context on the annual non-binding embargo resolution and say a Cuban official accused of shoving an American diplomat is to be kicked out of the United States.
By Hushread Stories, from 18 outlets · First published 28 Oct 2026
In brief
- US and Cuban officials exchanged angry words at the United Nations General Assembly on October 27.
- US Ambassador Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez confronted each other during the embargo debate.
- Members of the Cuban delegation banged on their table during Waltz's speech before the debate was interrupted.
- Waltz accused Cuba's leadership of maintaining privileges while ordinary Cubans faced shortages and restrictions on leaving.
- The New York Post reports that a Cuban official accused of shoving an American diplomat is to be kicked out of the United States.
Timeline · 5 moments
Report says accused Cuban official will be expelled
New York Post ↗Shouting match interrupts General Assembly debate on embargo
Top World News- News18.com ↗Waltz and Rodríguez exchange angry words in assembly
Times now ↗Cuban delegates bang on table during Waltz speech
The Independent ↗Waltz criticizes Cuban leadership during UN embargo debate
DER SPIEGEL - Schlagzeilen – Tops ↗Update 28 Oct 2026, 11:25 am UTC
News says the clash broke out during debate on a non-binding resolution Cuba has put forward annually since 1992. The New York Post reports that a Cuban official accused of shoving an American diplomat recording the confrontation is to be kicked out of the United States, a reported consequence not established in the earlier coverage.
How it started
The confrontation grew out of a United Nations General Assembly debate on the US embargo against Cuba on October 27. US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez exchanged angry words during the session, according to Times now.
The dispute was not just about diplomatic conduct. Waltz accused Cuba's leadership of maintaining privileges for the Castro family and senior officials while the population faced shortages and restrictions on leaving the country, Infobae reported. Those were his allegations, not independently established findings in the supplied coverage.
How it unfolded
During Waltz's October 27 speech, members of the Cuban delegation began banging on their table, according to The Independent. The outlet also reported that he was called a liar during the confrontation.
The exchange became a shouting match on the floor of the General Assembly hall. Waltz repeatedly told Cuba's UN team, "This is America", according to Al Jazeera. News18 reported that the confrontation suspended the debate over the embargo.
Rodríguez accused the US government of lying repeatedly during the annual General Assembly discussion, Infobae reported. He also argued that Washington had no justification for what he described as collective punishment of the Cuban people, according to RT en Español.
The New York Post reported that an American staffer was assaulted. The supplied coverage does not give details about the alleged assault, identify who was responsible or establish what happened afterward.
Where it stands
Reports published on October 28 continued to focus on the confrontation and the accusations behind it. DER SPIEGEL described the heated exchange as following Waltz's criticism of the government in Havana during the embargo debate.
The available coverage establishes a public diplomatic clash and a temporary interruption to proceedings. It does not provide a vote result, announce a change in embargo policy or explain how the alleged assault was handled.
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