“Repression, open markets, freedom of religion, political prisoners — these things need to change in order to have open and free relationships,” Reince Priebus said. | Getty Priebus: Trump ‘absolutely’ willing to end Cuba opening

President-elect Donald Trump is “absolutely” willing to reverse the opening of diplomatic relations with Cuba, incoming chief of staff Reince Priebus told "Fox News Sunday."

In the wake of the death Friday of longtime Cuban dictator Fidel Castro, Trump needs to see “movement in the right direction” from the Cuban regime in order to maintain recently reestablished diplomatic relations with the island nation.


“Repression, open markets, freedom of religion, political prisoners — these things need to change in order to have open and free relationships,” Priebus said. “There’s going to have to be some movement from Cuba in order to have a relationship with the United States.”

President Barack Obama restored diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba after a freeze-out of more than five decades. Obama visited Cuba, now being led by Raul Castro, in March 2016.

Trump weighed in on Fidel Castro’s death.

"While Cuba remains a totalitarian island, it is my hope that today marks a move away from the horrors endured for too long, and toward a future in which the wonderful Cuban people finally live in the freedom they so richly deserve,” Trump said in a statementSaturday.

“Though the tragedies, deaths and pain caused by Fidel Castro cannot be erased, our administration will do all it can to ensure the Cuban people can finally begin their journey toward prosperity and liberty.”