President Obama marked the second day of his historic visit to Cuba by posing for photos before a huge portrait of Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara, considered a hero by Cubans but long reviled as a terrorist by the United States.
The Argentina-born Che was one of Fidel Castro’s top henchmen — backing a nuclear strike on US soil during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis — and his face is an iconic symbol of Cuba’s revolution.
Obama didn’t mention the five-story image as he stood in Havana’s Revolutionary Square, but he took time to adjust a wreath at the foot of a 59-foot statue of José Martí, who fought for Cuban independence from Spain in the 19th century.
“His passion for liberty, freedom and self-determination lives on in the Cuban people today,” Obama said — in a nation that has been a Communist dictatorship for nearly six decades.
Earlier, Obama shook hands with President Raúl Castro as a military band played the Cuban and US national anthems.
The leaders then met behind closed doors for two hours before emerging to conduct an awkward press conference in which they exchanged barbs about human rights, democracy and the US trade embargo.
“What we did for 50 years did not serve our interests or the interests of the Cuban people,” Obama said. “We continue to have serious differences, including on democracy and human rights.”
In his remarks, Castro said that relations between the two countries have thawed, but that the United States would have to return the land at Guantanamo Bay and end its trade embargo to achieve normal footing.
Castro, who rarely takes questions from the media, fielded a couple from American and Cuban journalists. He adamantly denied his country jailed any political prisoners.
“What political prisoners? Give me a name or names, they will be released before tonight ends,” he barked.
He also rejected criticism of Cuba’s human-rights record, pointing to the nation’s universal health care and education for all.
Castro at one point could be heard loudly talking to his interpreter as Obama gave a long-winded answer to a question.
“Excuse me?” an irritated Obama said to Castro as they stood at separate podiums.
The Cuban leader explained that he was trying to discern whether the reporter’s question about Cuba holding political prisoners was intended for him.
After responding to only a few questions, Castro ended the conference abruptly.
“I think this is enough,” he declared.
Obama then leaned in toward Castro, perhaps to pat him on the back. But in another awkward moment, the Cuban leader tried to seize Obama’s arm triumphantly and ended up holding it in the air as Obama’s wrist dangled.
The image quickly ricocheted out on social media.
Both men pledged to keep working toward a new path forward between their two countries, putting the onus on each other to take the necessary steps to clear the way.
“The most recent measures adopted by his administration are positive but insufficient,” Castro said.
Later, the leaders met for a state dinner, where guests dined on pork and rice and servers provided trays of Cuban cigars.
While Cuban security forces brutally cracked down Sunday on the Ladies in White, a dissident group of the wives of political prisoners, there were no signs of demonstrators or protests on Monday.
Obama’s visit continues Tuesday as he meets with the dissidents and attends a game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban national team.
