Barack Obama became the first U.S. president to make a diplomatic trip to Cuba in 88 years, and it’s fair to say he faced a lot of scrutiny—and the potential for countless awkward moments. As Seth Meyers noted on Tuesday’s Late Night, Obama’s decision to go with diplomacy should be applauded, but that doesn’t mean there weren’t a few bumps along the way.
Obama’s journey to Cuba produced a viral photo—one that drew criticism from some who chafed at the mural of Che Guevara in the background. Yet as Meyers points out, it’s not like this hasn’t happened to other presidents. More amusingly, Obama also shared a very awkward handshake with Cuban president Raúl Castro. But for those with a serious interest in Cuban policy and relations going forward, the more troubling moment was probably when Castro denied that the government still imprisons political dissidents, something Human Rights Watch can tell you is patently false. As American businesses—and yes, drunk spring breakers—make their way to the island, one can only hope that these conversations continue toward a productive ending.
