At last night’s excruciatingly awkward CNN GOP Town Hall, the Republican presidential candidates addressed reports that President Obama would pop over to Cuba. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio, both of Cuban descent, didn’t approve of the idea. Cruz (who earlier reasserted his U.S. citizenship) said, “[Obama’s] allowing billions of dollars to go to tyrants who hate America.” Further, Cruz believes Obama would visit Cuba to “essentially act as an apologist.” Rubio (who said he was “taunted” as a child to “go back on your boat”) said Obama should not visit the country until it was a “free Cuba.”
Regardless of the GOP’s thoughts, Obama will become the first U.S. president to visit Cuba since Calvin Coolidge did in 1928. Obama’s visit will cap off 14 months of efforts after he ordered the U.S. to restore diplomatic ties. Last year, the Cuban embassy reopened in Washington, D.C., and this visit will be a historic one. Human Rights Watch — which has remained highly critical of how Cuba continued Fidel Castro’s reign of repression under his brother, Raul — has acknowledged Obama’s efforts to normalize relations between the two countries.
On Thursday morning, Obama made his official Cuba visit announcement (as one does) on Twitter. He hopes the visit will help “improve the lives of the Cuban people” after “significant progress” has already been made:
Next month, I'll travel to Cuba to advance our progress and efforts that can improve the lives of the Cuban people.
— President Obama (@POTUS44) February 18, 2016
14 months ago, I announced that we would begin normalizing relations with Cuba – and we've already made significant progress.
— President Obama (@POTUS44) February 18, 2016
Obama further acknowledged that he will “raise directly” the differences between the U.S. and Cuba, and he’ll stress human rights.
We still have differences with the Cuban government that I will raise directly. America will always stand for human rights around the world.
— President Obama (@POTUS44) February 18, 2016
In addition, Obama adviser Ben Rhodes penned an essay on Medium to explain how this trip will indeed place emphasis on human rights. Rhodes acknowledged the continued differences that exist between the two countries, but he writes, “While we do not seek to impose change on Cuba, we strongly believe that Cuba will benefit when the Cuban people can exercise their universal rights.”
UPDATE: The White House issued a statement saying that Obama does not plan to meet with Fidel Castro during the Cuba trip.
(Via USA Today & The Atlantic)