Obama had a packed schedule in Havana on Tuesday, delivering an address to the Cuban people, meeting with political dissidents and attending a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Cuban National Team.
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Fox News host Greta Van Susteren polled her followers on Twitter as to whether the president should return to the U.S. As of this article’s posting, a 2-1 majority of respondents want Obama back in the U.S.
At the opening of a speech about his trip to Cuba, Obama spoke about a series of what he called “terrorist attacks” that killed dozens of people in the Belgian capital on Tuesday.
“The President reiterated that the United States stands together with the people of Belgium, as well as North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the European Union, and once again pledged the full cooperation and support of the United States in our shared commitment to defeat the scourge of terrorism”, the White House said.
Three American missionaries were seriously injured in the blast, according to a statement from the Church of Latter Day Saints. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints identified them as Richard Norby, 66, of Lehi; Joseph Empey, 20, of Santa Clara, Mason Wells, 19, of Sandy.
In Brussels, the U.S. Embassy recommended sheltering in place and warned U.S. citizens there to monitor local developments and take “appropriate steps to bolster your personal security”. Federal prosecutors in Belgium said the explosions were caused by suicide bombers, setting off renewed terror alerts across the continent.
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., the ranking member of the House intelligence committee, said the attacks “bear all the hallmarks” of an Islamic State group co-ordinated or inspired attack.
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Attorney General Loretta Lynch was also briefed on the attacks, Justice Department officials in Washington said.
