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President Obama makes Historic Trip to Cuba – PHOTOS
HAVANA, CUBA – MARCH 20: President Barack Obama, Michelle Obama and Sasha Obama (R) walk down the stairs as they arrive at Jose Marti International Airport on Airforce One for a 48-hour visit on March 20, 2016 in Havana, Cuba. Mr. Obama’s visit is the first in nearly 90 years for a sitting president, the last one being Calvin Coolidge. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Traveling with the First Lady Michelle Obama, her mother, and their daughters Sasha and Malia, President Barack Obama landed at Jose Marti international airport in the country’s Presidential Jet Air Force One on Sunday amidst mixed feelings.
The 44th American President will be the first sitting president to visit Cuba, her former cold war foe since 1928 when Calvin Coolidge arrived in a battleship.
This trip is coming 15 months after he announced diplomatic ties between the US and Cuba, and one week after the first direct mail delivery to the country.
Obama will hold talks with Castro – but not his brother Fidel, the revolutionary leader – and speak to entrepreneurs on Monday. He meets privately with dissidents, addresses Cubans live on state-run media and attends an exhibition baseball game on Tuesday.
Obama’s first words to the Cuban people came via twitter; his words were “Que bola Cuba? (Cuban slang for “What’s up?”), Just touched down here, looking forward to meeting and hearing directly from the Cuban people.”
Lawmakers have attacked the president for the normalization of relations between the two countries and for setting out to a state travel to Cuba that is still under the leadership of the Castro family.
The trip comes amidst trade embargo between both countries, one which American lawmakers have resisted the call to lift.
See more photos from his arrival below.
HAVANA, CUBA – MARCH 20: U.S. President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama arrive at Jose Marti International Airport on Airforce One for a 48-hour visit on March 20, 2016 in Havana, Cuba. Mr. Obama’s visit is the first in nearly 90 years for a sitting president, the last one being Calvin Coolidge. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
HAVANA, CUBA – MARCH 20: President Barack Obama waves as he arrives at Jose Marti International Airport on Air Force One for a 48-hour visit on March 20, 2016 in Havana, Cuba. Mr. Obama’s visit is the first in nearly 90 years for a sitting president, the last one being Calvin Coolidge. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
U.S. President Barack Obama, first lady Michelle Obama and their daughters Malia, 17, and Sasha, 14, take a walking tour of in the plaza of the 18th century Catedral de San Cristobal de la Habana in the historic Old Havana neighborhood March 20, 2016 in Havana, Cuba. Obama is the first sitting president to visit Cuba in nearly 90 years.
HAVANA, CUBA – MARCH 20: Taking shelter from the pouring rain under umbrellas, U.S. President Barack Obama, his daughter Malia, 17, and members of the first family take a walking tour of in the plaza of the 18th century Catedral de San Cristobal de la Habana in the historic Old Havana neighborhood March 20, 2016 in Havana, Cuba. Obama is the first sitting president to visit Cuba in nearly 90 years. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
HAVANA, CUBA – MARCH 20: Taking shelter from the pouring rain under umbrellas, U.S. President Barack Obama, his daughter Malia, 17, and members of the first family take a walking tour of in the plaza of the 18th century Catedral de San Cristobal de la Habana in the historic Old Havana neighborhood March 20, 2016 in Havana, Cuba. Obama is the first sitting president to visit Cuba in nearly 90 years. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
HAVANA, CUBA – MARCH 20: (L-R) Sasha Obama, 14, first lady Michelle Obama, U.S. President Barack Obama and Malia Obama, 17, pause to look at a statue of Cuban independence hero Carlos Manuel de Cespedes during a walking tour of the plaza of the 18th century Catedral de San Cristobal de la Habana in the Old Havana neighborhood March 20, 2016 in Havana, Cuba. Obama is the first sitting president to visit Cuba in nearly 90 years. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
HAVANA, CUBA – MARCH 20: U.S. President Barack Obama (L), first lady Michelle Obama (4th L) and their daughters Malia (2nd R), 17, and Sasha (2nd L), 14, stop to look at a painting of Abraham Lincoln in the Museum of the City of Havana during a walking tour of the historic Old Havana March 20, 2016 in Havana, Cuba. Obama is the first sitting president to visit Cuba in nearly 90 years. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Photo Credit: Getty Images News
