Rubio, a Cuban-American who has taken a hard line against the island's Communist leadership, said the president's preference is "always a negotiated agreement that’s peaceful. That’s always our preference. That remains our preference with Cuba."
“I’m just being honest with you, you know, the likelihood of that happening, given who we’re dealing with right now, is not high,” Rubio said in Miami before boarding the plane for Sweden.
Rubio, who also serves as Trump's national security adviser, said Cuba poses a national security threat to the U.S.
Separately, Trump said other presidents have considered meddling in Cuba, but that “it looks like I’ll be the one that does it.”
Cuban Minister of Foreign Affairs Bruno Rodríguez slammed the narrative that Havana is a threat to the national security of the U.S., categorically rejecting statements made by Rubio.
“The U.S. Secretary of State lies once again to instigate a military aggression that would provoke the shedding of Cuban and American blood,” Rodríguez wrote on social media.
Rubio and Trump's comments come a day after the Justice Department unveiled an indictment against former Cuban President Raul Castro, charging him with murder.
The U.S. military publicized the arrival of the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier and its ships in the Caribbean on Wednesday.
