As we reported, Donald Trump has several times in recent days threatened to take the Panama Canal back into U.S. control because they’re ripping us off with “exorbitant prices and rates of passage” and are overly influenced by the Chinese.
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We built it: ‘Complete Rip-Off’ Will Stop: Trump Floats Making Panama Canal America’s Again
Panamanian president José Raúl Mulino got wind of the idea and summarily rejected it in a video statement Sunday:
A short time after Trump’s [Sunday speech at AmFest], Mulino released a video declaring that “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong” to his country.
Without mentioning Trump by name, Mulino addressed the president-elect’s complaints over rising fees for ships crossing the canal, saying that they are set by experts who take into account operational costs, and supply and demand factors.
“The tariffs are not set on a whim” Mulino said. He noted that Panama has expanded the canal over the years to increase ship traffic “on its own initiative,” and added that shipping fee increases help pay for improvements.
“Panamanians may have different views on many issues” Mulino said. “But when it comes to our canal, and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.”
Watch:
🇺🇸⚡️🇵🇦 President of Panama José Raúl Mulino responds to Donald Trump threats about the Panama Canal
“Every square mile of the canal and adjoining areas will remain under Panama’s control.
The sovereignty & independence of our country is not negotiable.”pic.twitter.com/NALy31hydW
— MenchOsint (@MenchOsint) December 22, 2024
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Trump didn’t take that sitting down and posted to Truth Social Sunday afternoon. His message was simple: “We’ll see about that!”
We’ll see about that!
Donald Trump Truth Social 05:12 PM EST 12/22/24 pic.twitter.com/Vkp8r3iwJg
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) December 22, 2024
Later he posted an even more pointed message:
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) December 22, 2024
More from AmFest: Rob Schneider Helps Out Clueless Dems Who Still Can’t Figure Out Why They Lost to Trump
As RedState’s Brittany Sheehan reported, Trump said that Jimmy Carter’s selling the U.S.-made canal to Panama was “foolish” and that he considers it a vital interest to our country.
The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States, due to its critical role to America’s Economy and National Security. A secure Panama Canal is crucial for U.S. Commerce, and rapid deployment of the Navy, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and drastically cuts shipping times to U.S. ports…
When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away, for One Dollar, during his term in Office, it was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else. It was likewise not given for Panama to charge the United States, its Navy, and corporations, doing business within our Country, exorbitant prices and rates of passage. Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S. This complete ‘rip-off’ of our Country will immediately stop.
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Trump’s talk of getting the Panama Canal could be a negotiating tactic, or he could mean it quite literally (I lean toward the former). The president-elect has also floated the idea of sending illegal immigrants whose countries won’t take them back to countries like Panama, the Bahamas, and Grenada.
Once he’s in office, he will have many tools at his disposal to pressure Mulino. It will be interesting to see how this one plays out.
