The Radical Reading Room

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla shouted at each other during a General Assembly session on Tuesday, Oct. 27. The confrontation unfolded as the assembly prepared to vote on an annual resolution condemning the U.S. trade and economic embargo against Cuba. Waltz was addressing the Cuban government when the exchange began.

Members of Cuba’s delegation interrupted Waltz as he criticized the government, and Parrilla moved toward the podium. He challenged the conduct of the session, raising a procedural objection and arguing that the assembly’s rules had been violated. Waltz rejected the interruption and continued addressing the delegates.

The two officials then traded accusations. Parrilla called Waltz a liar, while Waltz told him to move away from the podium and accused him of trying to intimidate him. Waltz also argued that Parrilla objected because he disliked the points being made. Their raised voices drew the attention of the presiding officer, General Assembly President Khalilur Rahman, who attempted to manage the exchange.

The clash took place amid disagreement over the embargo: the resolution before the assembly condemned U.S. policy, while Waltz’s remarks attacked Cuba’s government. The reports establish that the officials argued over both the substance of his speech and Parrilla’s procedural objection. They do not establish that the exchange changed the resolution’s status or the U.S. policy under discussion.