President-elect Donald J. Trump slammed the Panamanian government over “exorbitant” fees that the U.S. is being charged for the use of the Panama Canal and threatened to take it back if the “rip-off” doesn’t stop.
In a pair of lengthy posts to Truth Social on Saturday night, the soon-to-be 47th president fired off a warning shot that America is no longer going to be treated as the world’s chump once Joe Biden is gone, emphasizing that the vital commerce transit waterway is a matter of U.S. national security and that it should never be allowed to fall into the “wrong hands,” seemingly referring to communist China.
Trump also slammed Democrat Jimmy Carter for giving away “one of the Wonders of the Modern World” during his presidency and provided a reminder of the steep cost in American lives to build the canal in the mosquito-infested jungles of Panama.
“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,” Trump wrote. “The United States is the Number One user of the Canal, with over 70 percent of all transits heading to, or from, U.S. ports.”
“Considered one of the Wonders of the Modern World, the Panama Canal opened for business 110 years ago, and was built at HUGE cost to the United States in lives and treasure – 38,000 American men died from infected mosquitos in the jungles during construction. Teddy Roosevelt was President of the United States at the time of its building, and understood the strength of Naval Power and Trade,” he continued.
“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….,” Trump said.
