Trump Sets New Course on Cuba

Trump Sets New Course on Cuba
President Donald Trump shows the policy changes he is making toward Cuba at the Manuel Artime Theater in the Little Havana neighborhood in Miami, Fla., on June 16, 2017. Joe Raedle/Getty Images
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President Donald J. Trump announced a change to U.S. Cuba policy in a speech in Miami on Friday, criticizing his predecessors policy toward the communist country.

“I am canceling the last administration’s completely one-sided deal with Cuba,” Trump said.

“They made a deal with a government that spread violence and instability in the region,” said Trump, adding that the Obama administration got nothing in return.

“We just didn’t fight hard enough, but now, those days are over,” Trump said. “We now hold the cards. The previous administration’s easing of restrictions of travel and trade does not help the Cuban people. They only enrich the Cuban regime.”

The new policy aims to force compliance with U.S. laws that govern the standing embargo of Cuba, especially the ban on tourism.

President Donald Trump speaks about policy changes he is making toward Cuba at the Manuel Artime Theater in the Little Havana neighborhood in Miami, Fla., on June 16, 2017. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
President Donald Trump speaks about policy changes he is making toward Cuba at the Manuel Artime Theater in the Little Havana neighborhood in Miami, Fla., on June 16, 2017. Joe Raedle/Getty Images
Matthew Little
Matthew Little
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Matthew Little is a senior editor with Epoch Health.