Day One in Photos: The First U.S. President in Cuba in 88 Years

Ben Rhodes
3 min readMar 21, 2016

Yesterday, President Obama made history. For the first time ever, Air Force One touched down in Havana, Cuba.

Check out a few photos of that Chief White House Photographer Pete Souza and his crew took to capture this remarkable day.

President Barack Obama joins others in looking out the window of Air Force One on final approach into Havana, Cuba, Sunday, March 20, 2016.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha greets dignitaries upon arrival in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, March 20, 2016.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Sasha and Malia, and Marian Robinson take a walking tour of Old Havana, Cuba, March 20, 2016. Eusebio Leal Spengler, Historian of Havana, leads the tour of the Carlos Manuel de Céspedes del Castillo Monument. The statue honors the Cuban planter, also known as Padre de la Patria (father of the country), who freed his slaves and made the declaration of Cuban independence. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)
President Barack Obama walks through Old Havana, Cuba, Sunday, March 20, 2016.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama greets people in Old Havana, Cuba, Sunday, March 20, 2016.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
Patrons at a Havana hotel wave as President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha walk past in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, March 20, 2016.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama and Ben Rhodes talk with Cardinal Jamie Ortega while touring La Catedral de la Virgen Maria de la Concepcion Inmaculada with Cardinal Jamie Ortega in Old Havana, Cuba, Sunday, March 20, 2016.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
First Lady Michelle Obama and daughters Malia and Sasha tour La Catedral de la Virgen Maria de la Concepcion Inmaculada in Old Havana, Cuba, Sunday, March 20, 2016.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk to the motorcade after touring Old Havana, Cuba, Sunday, March 20, 2016.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama laughs while having dinner with First Lady Michelle Obama, daughters Malia and Sasha in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, March 20, 2016.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama and daughter Malia share a laugh as Malia interprets in Spanish for a restauranteur in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, March 20, 2016.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama greets hotel workers in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, March 20, 2016.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)
President Barack Obama waves to people as he enters a restaurant in Havana, Cuba, Sunday, March 20, 2016.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

From laying a wreath at the José Martí Memorial to meeting with President Castro to engaging with cuentapropistas at an entrepreneurship summit, the President has a full day ahead in Cuba.

Check out what’s happening today here and follow me on Twitter to get the latest updates from Havana.

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Ben Rhodes

White House Deputy National Security Advisor for Strategic Communications & Speechwriting. Notes may be archived: http://wh.gov/privacy.