President Donald Trump revived talk of U.S. military intervention in Cuba during a Friday rally in Fort Myers, Florida, suggesting American warships returning from operations in the Middle East could make a stop near the island.

Speaking to supporters at a GOP event, Trump responded to a question from the crowd about Cuba. "We'll do a little stopover," he said. "Actually, what we're going to do with Cuba is, we're going to come back from Iran. Those beautiful ships will pass Cuba. We'll have one of them stop about 50 yards off the coast. They'll raise up their hands. And then we're going to send (Secretary of State) Marco Rubio in to finish up the deal."

The remarks mark the latest in a series of statements from Trump and his administration signaling a harder line toward the communist government in Havana. Trump has previously indicated Cuba would be next after the Iran conflict winds down, a development he has long predicted.

In May, Trump and Rubio raised the possibility of intervention following the administration's announcement of criminal charges against former Cuban leader Raúl Castro. Trump told reporters at the time that prior presidents had considered action against Cuba for decades but suggested he might be the one to act.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced the message shortly after Trump's rally comments. In a social media post, Rubio stated that "now is the time" for action on Cuba and urged those seeking change to pursue it through a partnership with the CIA.

Cuba has long posed national security concerns due to its alliances with U.S. adversaries. The administration has imposed sanctions on Cuban entities tied to military and economic activities, including those linked to nickel production.

Earlier military planning discussions surfaced in reports from September, when the U.S. Army Reserve examined support options for potential operations in the region. Trump downplayed the need for force in late September, saying a deal with Cuba was likely and that the island was "failing very badly."

The renewed rhetoric comes days before midterm elections, with voters focused on domestic issues including inflation amid the ongoing Iran conflict. Trump's comments align with longstanding conservative priorities of confronting communist regimes and protecting American interests in the Western Hemisphere.