Cubans Protest U.S. Embassy Over Indictment of Former Leader

Thousands of Cubans gathered at the U.S. embassy in Havana on Friday to protest an American indictment of a former Cuban leader. The charges relate to the downing of two civilian airplanes three decades ago. The demonstration began shortly after sunrise along the waterfront and continued through the day.

Officials said the event reflected a week of public statements supporting the island's revolutionary figures. Havana rejected the murder charges filed on Wednesday, calling them spurious. Authorities described the indictment as a possible pretext for U.S. military action.

Trump stated from the Oval Office that he could be the leader to take direct action after decades of prior threats. He noted that other presidents had considered similar steps for 50 or 60 years. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Cuba poses a national security concern due to its relations with China and Russia.

He added that the administration is losing patience after months of talks produced no results. Rubio stated that Cuba has grown accustomed to delaying tactics but that the current approach differs from past efforts. He noted that the president retains the option to use force if needed to protect national interests.