Trump suggests taking back Panama Canal over ‘unfair’ treatment and fees

President-elect Donald Trump suggested Sunday that he would look into taking back the Panama Canal because of usage fees he called a “ripoff.”

Speaking at the Turning Point Action Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Mr. Trump called the fees “ridiculous” and “highly unfair especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama, I say very foolishly, by the United States.”

“It was given to Panama and to the people of Panama, but it has provisions, you gotta treat us fairly and they haven’t treated us fairly,” Mr. Trump said. “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 the United States of America in full, quickly and without question.”

Mr. Trump originally started in on the Panama Canal on Saturday in multiple Truth Social posts.

“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,” he wrote in one of the posts. “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.”

“Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way,” he wrote. “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…”

In a second post, he said the U.S. has a “vested interest in the secure, efficient and reliable operation” of the canal.

He said that 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.”

The U.S. and Panama signed a treaty in 1904 that allowed for the canal to be built and operated by the U.S. It was finished in 1914. The U.S. ceded the Panama Canal back to Panama in 1999.

It’s estimated that over 70% of all ships that go through the canal are either leaving or heading to U.S. ports, according to the International Trade Administration.

Officials from Panama were quick to call out what Mr. Trump said about the canal.

National Assembly member Manuel Alberto Samaniego Rodriguez posted Saturday on X that the canal is “located in Panamanian territory, therefore it is not an asset of any other country other than Panama.”

He called Mr. Trump’s statements “regrettable.”

“This young Panamanian independent deputy will defend his country with his life if necessary,” he said.

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino hit back at Mr. Trump’s comments Sunday in a lengthy video on X.

“As president, I want to express clearly that every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zone belongs to Panama, and will continue to do so,” the Englisstatementen that Mr. Mulino posted said. “The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable.”

He said that the canal “has no control, direct or indirect, neither from China, nor from the European Community, nor from the United States or any other power.”

“As a Panamanian, I strongly reject any manifestation that distorts reality,” he said.

The president said “Panama respects other nations and demands respect. With the new United States government, I aspire to preserve and maintain a good and respectful relationship.”

In response to his statement, Mr. Trump wrote, “We’ll see about that!” on his Truth Social account.

He followed it with another post with a picture of the canal and an American flag, with the caption, “Welcome to the United States Canal!”