Trump to Announce His Cuba Policy on June 16th

Next Friday the US president will travel to Miami to make the announcement

Por Cubaencuentro

HAVANA TIMES — US President Donald Trump will come to Miami next Friday to announce the changes his administration has for US policy toward Cuba, a source familiar with the President’s plans told the Miami Herald.

The location of the event has not been fixed yet. But the fact that the trip has already been planned indicates that the policy towards Cuba, which has been under study for several months, will be finalized soon.

The decision to disclose that policy in Miami suggests it will please hard-liner Cuban exiles whose support Trump considered significant to win Florida as well as to win the presidency, El Nuevo Herald reports.

Trump is preparing to at least make some of Obama’s changes more difficult, including restricting business with the Cuban armed forces [which are the leading hotel owners] and any travel of US citizens that may seem like tourism in some way, which would threaten some or all of the people-to-people categories allowed by the previous administration.

Such changes have been backed by Florida Senator Marco Rubio and Miami Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, the only two local Congressional members who backed Trump. They have subsequently used their leverage to lobby the issue with their administration. Rubio in particular has been working very closely with the White House and the National Security Council regarding the upcoming changes.

The White House, which has not had major legislative victories so far, has tried to keep its promises to its political support base through executive measures. Trump’s executive orders and political directives have given him the opportunity to leave the confines of Washington to feel the support of his supporters.