BILL BARROW and WILL WEISSERT, Associated Press
Updated: Dec 23, 2024 / 04:51 AM CST
Former President Donald Trump suggested Sunday that his incoming administration might pursue regaining control of the Panama Canal, which the United States “foolishly” ceded to Panama. Trump criticized the “ridiculous” fees charged to shippers for using the canal, a key trade route connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Panama’s president, José Raúl Mulino, elected in May on a pro-business platform, strongly dismissed Trump’s comments, calling them an insult to Panama’s sovereignty.
Trump’s remarks came during a rally at Turning Point USA’s AmericaFest in Arizona, marking his first major public appearance since winning the presidency on November 5. Addressing a crowd of conservative supporters, Trump pledged to deliver economic growth, secure U.S. borders, and resolve conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine.
“We’re being ripped off at the Panama Canal,” Trump told the audience, lamenting that the U.S. relinquished control of the waterway. Under a 1977 treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter, the canal was officially handed over to Panama on December 31, 1999.
Trump also hinted at potential action if Panama does not adhere to what he called the “moral and legal principles” behind the canal’s transfer. “If those principles are not followed, we will demand the return of the Panama Canal to the United States, in full and without question,” he declared.
Panama’s president responded shortly after with a firm video statement asserting that the canal is and will remain Panamanian territory. Without naming Trump, Mulino defended the canal’s fee structure, explaining that tariffs are determined based on operational costs and market factors.
“The Panama Canal belongs to Panama, and it will continue to belong to Panama,” Mulino stated. He highlighted that shipping fees support the canal’s ongoing expansion and modernization, which Panama has undertaken independently.
Trump later doubled down on social media, posting a picture of a U.S. flag with the phrase, “Welcome to the United States Canal!”
Aside from the canal controversy, Trump’s appearance at the Turning Point event underscored the influence of conservative grassroots movements, with the group’s founder, Charlie Kirk, playing a pivotal role in mobilizing support for Trump.
During the rally, Trump also announced key appointments for his administration, including Stephen Miran to lead the Council of Economic Advisers and Callista Gingrich as ambassador to Switzerland.
Australian billionaire Anthony Pratt, a major Trump donor, revealed plans to contribute an additional $1.1 million to Trump’s inaugural fund, complementing the $14 million he has already donated to support Trump’s campaign.
This story has been updated to clarify that Panama’s President Mulino was elected in May, not April.
Associated Press writer Manuel Rueda contributed reporting from Bogota, Colombia.
