But facing pressure from USA businesses and even some fellow Republicans to avoid turning back the clock completely in relations with communist-ruled Cuba, the Republican president chose to leave intact many of his Democratic predecessor's steps toward normalization. The Cuban government reacted happily and stated that they are ready to continue the respectful dialogue and cooperation.
Trump's hostile language toward the Castro government and his literal onstage embrace of Cuban-American exiles and Cuban dissidents has unmasked the United States' true intentions toward Cuba and made it easier for the government to instill unity across Cuban society, pro-government figures said Saturday. "Officially, today, they are rejected".
Saying that the aim was to fix what Trump has called a "bad deal" struck by Obama, U.S. officials said the new administration would leave the door open to improved relations if Cuba undertakes democratic reforms such as allowing free elections and releasing political prisoners.
As a result, the changes - though far-reaching - appear to be less sweeping than many U.S.pro-engagement advocates had feared.
The Castro government said in a statement that Trump's speech "reminded the times of open confrontation with our country, announced the policy of his government towards Cuba which reverts the progress achieved in the past two years".
The lengthy statement went on to strike a conciliatory tone, saying Cuba wants to continue negotiations with the United States on a variety of subjects.
It regretted "a reversal in relations between the two countries".
"There will be little impact on the USA economy", said Michael Shifter, a specialist at the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington-based research group. USA airlines and cruise ships are to still be allowed to serve the island 145km south of Florida.
Trump delivered remarks on his policy and hinted to his long-terms goals for U.S.
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Only group trips will be permitted, and they must "must maintain a full-time schedule of educational exchange activities that are meant to enhance contact with the Cuban people, support civil society in Cuba, or promote the Cuban people's independence from Cuban authorities".
In addition, the U.S. government is to police other trips to ensure travelers are pursuing a "full-time schedule of educational exchange activities". He is not going to encourage any new trade sanctions. Once implemented Trump's policy is expected to curtail U.S.travel by creating a maze of rules for Americans to obey.
The new rules aim to ban or limit Americans from patronising military-linked businesses including Cuba's gargantuan GAESA conglomerate, which is estimated to control more than half of the island's tourist economy.
"It's heartbreaking", said Patrick Hidalgo, a Cuban-American and former director of the White House Business Council under Obama.
Some analysts say Cuba needs to improve its own human rights record, but that rolling back U.S. -Cuba relations is not the best way to do it.
Moscow however criticized Trump on the decision, saying that "anti-Cuban discourse is still widely in demand".
Trump's policy directive used Cuba's continued human rights abuses as a justification for taking a harder approach in the relationship. "We will enforce the embargo", the USA president said. Trump is just adding teeth to the existing Obama policies.
The complication for Trump's rules, however, is that large tour groups are too big for smaller bed-and-breakfast rentals, and their government-appointed guides tend to ply the well- trodden routes that bypass the new galleries, restaurants and night spots opened by enterprising Cubans and others after the openings spurred by Obama. American tourism is a great contributor to the Cuban economy, especially due to the high difference between the dollar and the Cuban peso, coming in at approximately 1 to 26.5. "We will not lift sanctions on the Cuban regime until all political prisoners are free, all political parties are legalized and free and supervised elections are scheduled", the President said.
Specifically, a tougher stance against American criminals, who fled to the communist nation, including one of New Jersey's most infamous fugitives.
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