Archive for the ‘Obama’ Category

Trump, in Miami speech, set to roll back Obama’s Cuba policy – Fox News

President Trump will head to Miami on Friday, home to a large and influential Cuban-American community, to unveil his administrations new Cuba policy -- which will roll back central parts of his predecessors efforts to normalize ties with the Communist island nation, according to a senior administration official and other sources.

While details on the changes to the policy have yet to be fully revealed, a U.S. official suggested that Trump would call for Cuban President Raul Castro to push for more political freedom and to release democratic activists in Cuban prisons, among other initiatives.

Trump is at the same time expected to announce a reversal in some areas of former President Barack Obama's previous steps toward normalizing relations including the opening of embassies between the two countries and the easing of flight restrictions between the U.S. and Cuba.

The final actions have not been set as the review over the specifics of the plan continues. However, there will likely be steps in restricting travel from the U.S. to Cuba; there are now daily flights from Florida to Cuba. Another directive being weighed is taking steps to limit American companies from dealing with businesses owned by the Cuban military, U.S. sources confirm to Fox News.

While campaigning in Miami during a stop in September of 2016, then-Republican presidential nominee Trump hinted at such a move, tying it to demands on the Cuban government.

All of the concessions Barack Obama has granted the Castro regime were done through executive order which means our next president can reverse them, Trump said. "And that I will do unless the Castro regime meets our demands.

Those demands include religious and political freedom for the Cuban people, and the freeing of political prisoners, Trump added.

Key Republican lawmakers Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Mario Diaz Balart, both Cuban-Americans from Florida, have been directly involved in working with the White House on the new Cuba policy, according to sources with direct knowledge of the situation.

Rubio, who opposed Trump in the 2016 Republican presidential primary, has worked diligently behind the scenes with the administration to develop the approach, said a source directly involved in the policy discussions.

"I am confident the president will keep his commitment on Cuba policy by making changes that are targeted and strategic and which advance the Cuban people's aspirations for economic and political liberty, Rubio said in a statement.

A senior Rubio adviser previewed what may be represented during Fridays Trump Cuba policy rollout, including that the new approach would have to be in compliance with the statutory provisions passed by Congress which govern US-Cuba policy.

The aide also stressed that the new Cuba policy would be in the best interest of U.S. foreign policy and national security.

Part of the focus is to also encourage the emerging generation of Cuban leaders to take the reigns after Raul Castro steps down in 2018, as he publicly stated he would.

Raul Castro and his closest advisors are mostly in their 80's, the senior aide told Fox News, stressing they are focusing on the "long term."

Cuba will soon have a new generation of leaders, one way or another. These policy measures are designed to lay the groundwork for them to empower the Cuban people to develop greater economic and ultimately political liberty.

Fox News' John Roberts contributed to this report.

Serafin Gomez is a White House Producer for FOX News Channel, who also covered the 2016 election as a Special Events & Politics producer and former special campaign correspondent for Fox News Latino. Fin formerly worked as the Miami Bureau Producer for Fox News Channel where he covered Florida Politics & Latin America. Follow him on Twitter: @Finnygo

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Trump, in Miami speech, set to roll back Obama's Cuba policy - Fox News

Obama Follows Montreal Speech With …

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and former President Barack Obama left their ties at home Tuesday night as they casually dined at a Montreal restaurant.

Obama had earlieraddresseda crowd of 6,000 people at the Montreal Board of Trade during his first post-presidency visit to Canada. He did not mention President Donald Trump by name but denouncedthe current administrations lack of leadership on climate change and diplomacy.

Following the event, Obama and Trudeau headed to the St. Henri neighborhood for dinner. According to the Montreal Gazette, people crowded outsideLiverpool Houseto get a look at the two leaders.Liverpool House is the popular sister restaurant to the trendy eatery Joe Beef.

People on Twitter loved it. Some hoped for a cameo appearance by Frances new president, Emmanuel Macron, while others complimented the pair on their restaurant choice.

And, of course, some wondered if the dinner jeopardized a certain bromance.

CORRECTION: This article previously misstated the name of Liverpool Houses sister restaurant: It is Joe Beef, not Joes Beef.

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Obama Follows Montreal Speech With ...

Obama Warns Against Income Inequality While Delivering …

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Obama said the world must do more to combat income inequality, noting that the concentration of wealth fans fears that governments exist solely to benefit the powerful, NBC reported.

Thats a recipe for more cynicism and more polarization, less trust in our institutions and less trust in each other, Obama said.

And its part of what leads people to turn to populist alternatives that may not actually deliver, Obama said in a thinly disguised jab at President Donald Trump without naming his successor specifically.

According to the Toronto Star, not everyone could afford to see the man calling for the end of income inequality.

A dim-lit hall laid out for a rock star, a red-carpet stroll for giddy VIPs and video screens for the rest of the roughly 6,000 who were neither sufficiently wealthy nor connected to get a front-row seat, the Star reported.

This was the scene here at a 70-minute appearance nine months in the making: Barack Obamas first post-presidency address on Canadian soilone of the few appearances hes made anywhere since handing power to U.S. President Donald Trump in January, the Star reported.

Hotly contested, planned and negotiated until the final days and beamed across North America, it was a strategic investment that may have topped half a million dollars and was meant to put on the map a city in the throes of its 375th anniversary celebrations, the Star reported.

The Star speculated Obama may have been persuaded to speak through his friendship with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who tweeted about the former presidents visit:

Other dignitaries attending Obamas speech included the federal cabinet minister and former astronaut Marc Garneau, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre, and Quebec Premier Philippe Couillard.

All were seated at the table of honour, surrounded captains of Quebecs business world, sipping wine at corporate tables, the Star reported. The more reasonably priced $375 seats started at a distance where Obama was just a well-lit spec on a faraway stage.

Michel Leblanc, president of the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, refused to say how much they paid for Obamas visit or what other conditions might have led to their winning bid, according to the Star.

Obama has reportedly demanded a $400,000 (U.S.) speaking fee for at least two other speeches, the Starwrote.

One Canadian source, who was unaware of the payment details, said such a price tagwhich works out in Canadian dollars to roughly $7,700 for every minute Obama spent on the Montreal stagewould not be a great surprise, the outlet continued.

Meanwhile, NBCs report reveals Obama is now striving to be an international community organizer.

Obama said that in times of economic uncertainty it can be tempting to turn to isolationism and the politics of us-vs.-them and said World War I and World War II were the result, NBC reported.

He said the U.S. and other nations showed there was a better way in creating an international order that was based not just on self-interest but also on principles.

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Obama has private dinner with Trudeau in Montreal – ABC News

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has tweeted his thanks to former U.S. President Barack Obama after the two shared a private dinner at a Montreal restaurant.

Trudeau posted a picture of the pair talking in the eatery, with the caption "How do we get young leaders to take action in their communities? Thanks BarackObama for your visit & insights tonight in my hometown."

A crowd cheered the two leaders as they left the restaurant Tuesday night.

"A nice opportunity to share one my favorite hometown restaurants with an old friend, and talk about the state of the world," Trudeau said Wednesday.

Last year, Obama hosted Trudeau for a state dinner at the White House, the first for Canada since 1997.

Obama spoke to the Montreal Board of Trade Tuesday and decried what he called the lack of American leadership on climate change, a swipe at new President Donald Trump's administration.

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Obama has private dinner with Trudeau in Montreal - ABC News

Obama dines with Trudeau after Montreal speech | TheHill

Former President Barack ObamaBarack ObamaBiden encourages Romney to launch Senate bid: report Trump to make first visit to Supreme Court as president: report Dem group will troll Trump with banner over Jersey Shore MORE had dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Tuesday evening.

How do we get young leaders to take action in their communities? Thanks @BarackObama for your visit & insights tonight in my hometown. pic.twitter.com/EwJXPEkN3w

CBC News reported that the two men dined together in Montreal at the Liverpool House restaurant. Its Obamas first visit to Canada since leaving office in January.

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Obama was in Montreal speaking at the Montreal Chamber of Commerce.

During the speech, he criticized President Trumps decision to withdraw the United States from the Paris climate accord, but said he believes the agreement still has a chance.

"Obviously I'm disappointed with the current American administration decision to put out of Paris," Obama said during a speech at the Montreal Chamber of Commerce, according toThe Associated Press.

Obama, who didn't mention Trump by name in his speech, praised states, cities and corporations carrying on with the Paris commitments despite the "temporary absence of American leadership."

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Obama dines with Trudeau after Montreal speech | TheHill