Obama in front of large mural of Che

President Obama was photographed in front of a giant Che Guevara mural during his historic visit to Cuba

• Pamela Engel
 
•  

• Mar. 21, 2016, 12:37 PM

REUTERS/Ivan AlvaradoPresident Barack Obama stands near an image of late revolutionary hero Ernesto "Che" Guevara (background) during a wreath laying ceremony at the Jose Marti monument in Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba.

President Barack Obama was photographed in front of a giant mural depicting Argentine Marxist revolutionary Ernesto "Che" Guevara on Monday during his historic visit to the communist country.

Obama arrived in Cuba on Sunday, marking the first visit by a US president in 88 years. The US announced that it would restore diplomatic relations with Cuba in late 2014.

The estrangement between the US and Cuba started in 1959 when Cuba's revolution overthrew a pro-American government. Guevara is a famous figure of the revolution.

Obama was also photographed in front of a mural of Camilo Cienfuegos, another Cuban revolutionary.

Some critics on Twitter have questioned the optics of such photos.

Here are some of the photos:

REUTERS/Ivan AlvaradoPresident Barack Obama walks by an image of late revolutionary hero Ernesto "Che" Guevara in Cuba March 21, 2016.

APPresident Barack Obama, center, and Secretary of State John Kerry, center left, stand as an honor guard marches during a ceremony at the Jose Marti monument in Revolution Square in Havana, Cuba, Monday, March 21, 2016.