Summary
Donald Trump criticized Panama Canal fees as “ridiculous” and demanded lower costs or the canal’s return to the US.
In a Truth Social post, Trump also expressed concern about potential Chinese influence over the waterway, despite no direct Chinese control of canal operations.
The canal, transferred to Panama in 1999, is vital for global trade, handling 5% of maritime traffic.
Trump’s comments follow record revenues of $5 billion announced by the Panama Canal Authority. Panama has not yet responded to his statements.
Trump “demands” lots of things. Almost all of them are directly against the interests of the party he’s demanding them from.
He’s a bully who thinks he deserves to get his way all the time in all things. And he’s a crybaby when he doesn’t get what he wants.
And he’s enough of an idiot to come up with a lot of ridiculous things to try and demand.