President Trump: I Will Take Back the Panama Canal If It Continues to “Rip-off” the U.S.

President Trump just said that he’s considering demanding that the Panama Canal be returned to the U.S. if they continue ripping off our country with exorbitant transit fees.

In a lengthy Truth Social post, President Trump explained that the Panama Canal is one of our nation’s biggest assets and that the “fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S.”

For some reference, boats and ships are currently being charged anywhere from $0.50 to $300K to pass through the Panama Canal — a vital shipping route that the United States uses more than any other country in the world. The exact charge depends on the size of the vessel.

“This complete ripoff of our Country will immediately stop,” President Trump went on to say, or else he will “demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, without question.”

Here’s what President Trump said:

🚨BREAKING: Donald Trump says he may demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States. pic.twitter.com/Jh6zPx4urh

— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) December 21, 2024

🇺🇸 TRUMP: I WILL TAKE THE PANAMA CANAL BACK

"A secure Panama Canal is crucial for U.S. commerce and the rapid deployment of the Navy.

When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away, it was solely for Panama to manage, not China or anyone else.

If the principles of this… pic.twitter.com/RZmo4YhVzF

— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) December 22, 2024

Full text of President Trump’s post here:

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.

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. 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.

The United States has a vested interest in the secure, efficient, and reliable operation of the Panama Canal, and that was always understood. We would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands! It was not given for the benefit of others, but merely as a token of cooperation with us and Panama.

If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question. To the Officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly!

Politico reported:

President-elect Donald Trump threatened on Saturday that the U.S. would reassume control of the Panama Canal if it felt that Panama wasn’t honoring the terms of a 1977 treaty regarding the waterway’s legal status.

In two lengthy Truth Social posts Saturday evening, Trump accused Panama of charging U.S. vessels exorbitant rates to pass through the critical waterway. He also claimed that the treaties enabling Panama to take control of the canal in the first place also allow for the U.S. to take it back.

“If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of giving are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question,” Trump wrote.

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President Trump’s post echoes his previous statement to Tucker Carlson that President Jimmy Carter should have never given up the Panama Canal.

Here’s that clip:

Trump is 100% right. Carter should have never given up the Panama Canal. Let's reclaim it. pic.twitter.com/4qStwoSzUX

— End Wokeness (@EndWokeness) December 22, 2024

The Hill has more on this:

The U.S. uses the Panama Canal more than any other country. Control of the canal was transferred from the U.S. to the Central American country in 1999 as a result of a 1979 treaty under President Jimmy Carter, which Trump said was a foolish decision.

“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,” he stated. “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.”

The construction of the Panama Canal began in 1904 under President Teddy Roosevelt. The waterway was built to provide a speedy way to ship goods between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. At the time, it was viewed as one of the most critical foreign policy achievements.

Trump, on Saturday, called for a “secure” Panama Canal, underscoring its importance to American national security and the economy.

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“The United States has a vested interest in the secure, efficient, and reliable operation of the Panama Canal, and that was always understood. We would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands! It was not given for the benefit of others, but merely as a token of cooperation with us and Panama,” he added, stating that the country is being treated “in a very unfair and injudicious way.”