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US and Cuban diplomats in shouting match at UN General Assembly

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz and Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez Parrilla engaged in a heated shouting match on the General Assembly floor Tuesday.^{⁠[14, 20, 33]} Waltz was delivering a speech criticizing Cuba's government and defending the U.S. economic embargo when members of the Cuban delegation began interrupting by shouting and banging on their desks, according to The Washington Examiner and Conservative Review.^{⁠[18, 33]} Parrilla approached the podium mid-speech and accused Waltz of lying, per The New Republic and Fox News.^{⁠[6, 19]}

Waltz repeatedly told Parrilla to "back up" or "back away," saying, "This isn't Havana! You're not going to intimidate me," according to Fox News, The Washington Examiner and Blaze Media.^{⁠[15, 19, 33]} The exchange came as the U.N. prepares to vote on whether to condemn the U.S. embargo on Cuba, which The New Republic described as part of an annual resolution.^{⁠[6, 37]}

The New York Post reported that a member of the Cuban delegation tried to physically stop Waltz's spokesman from recording and that an American staffer was assaulted.^{⁠[20, 24]} The Wall Street Journal wrote in an opinion piece that Havana's bullies tried to shut up Waltz for calling out the regime's corruption.^⁠[28]

Covered by Atlanta Black Star, NBC News, The Wall Street Journal and 24 more

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