Mike Pence also promised a Donald Trump administration would maintain the five decade-long trade embargo with Cuba. | AP Photo Pence: Cuba executive orders will be overturned

MIAMI, Fla. — Mike Pence on Friday vowed a Trump administration would overturn President Barack Obama’s measures to expand ties to Cuba, seeking to court members of the Cuban-American community here that still loathe the Castro regime.

“When Donald Trump and I take to the White House, we will reverse Barack Obama’s executive orders on Cuba,” the GOP vice presidential nominee said at a Miami-Dade County Republican Party dinner.


The Indiana governor also promised a Trump administration would maintain the five decade-long trade embargo until “real religious and political freedom” comes to the communist island nation.

Obama took executive action Friday to further loosen sanctions on Cuba, including lifting restrictions on cigars and rum imports. It’s the latest in a series of moves from Obama since December 2014 to normalize relations with Cuba.

While the next president has the power to reverse changes Obama made using his executive authority, the White House believes doing so would prove virtually impossible amid fast-shifting travel and commercial trends. Obama said in a statement Friday that his actions would “make our opening to Cuba irreversible.”