Michelle Obama doesn't accompany her husband that frequently when he travels abroad. But when it comes to his historic trip to Cuba, it's different.

The first lady will accompany President Obama to both his visit to the island nation next month, as well as his subsequent two-day stop in Argentina.

According to White House deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes, her presence serves to advance public diplomacy."And if you look at this type of trip, what the first lady is, frankly, singularly good at is she’s an enormously popular figure in different countries around the world, generates a lot of goodwill, and is a very able messenger for America and its values," Rhodes told reporters Thursday.

"And so going to a place like Cuba for the first time in this presidency, and the first time in many years, and having this kind of historic opening to the Cuban people, I think it's very important that she’s there and that her voice is a part of the conversation, and that this region more generally of the Americas is one that she’s interested in engaging."

Last edited by DollyLongstaff (2/20/2016 9:05 am)