US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz and Cuba’s foreign minister have a shouting confrontation on the floor of the UN General Assembly as Waltz is speaking. Multiple outlets report that Cuban officials moved toward Waltz’s podium, with Waltz telling the Cuban foreign minister to “back up,” while the exchange escalates into loud back-and-forth comments.
The reports place the incident during UN activity related to Cuba and the long-running US embargo. One outlet says the UN is preparing to vote on whether to condemn the embargo, and that Cuba’s foreign minister argues the US is pressuring other countries on the vote. Other coverage focuses more narrowly on the on-floor moment, describing Cuban delegation members interrupting with shouting and table-banging as Waltz delivers remarks ridiculing Cuba’s government.
While all accounts agree on the basic sequence—Waltz speaking, the Cuban foreign minister approaching, Waltz telling him to back up, and a shouting match—the emphasis differs. Some outlets underscore allegations made during the confrontation, while others highlight who approached the podium and the immediate conduct by both sides.
