After Trump threat, Mexican president says Panama Canal belongs to Panamanians

Reuters

Mon, December 23, 2024

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed support for Panama's government on Monday after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump threatened to reassert U.S. control over the Panama Canal on Sunday.

"Indeed, the Panama Canal belongs to the Panamanians," Sheinbaum said, speaking during her regular morning press conference.

Sheinbaum's comments came one day after Trump accused Panama of charging excessive rates to use the Central American passage while speaking to a crowd of supporters in Arizona. After the event, he posted an image on Truth Social of an American flag flying over a narrow body of water, with the comment: "Welcome to the United States Canal!"

Trump's comments were an exceedingly rare example of a U.S. leader saying he could push a sovereign country to hand over territory.

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino swiftly denounced Trump's comments.

"Every square meter of the Panama Canal and the surrounding area belongs to Panama and will continue belonging (to Panama)," Mulino said in a statement released on X.

(This woman will never learn, she should consult with Obrador)

https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-threat-mexican-president-says-144023526.html

"The Art of the Deal"strategy, come in with high demands, and negotiate to what Trump wanted in the first place!I don't know why they don't get it yet.

Aussie businessman Anthony Pratt donates $15.1 million to support President-elect Trump

December 22, 2024 at 5:32 PM

Australian businessman Anthony Pratt has given over $15 million in support of President-elect Donald Trump, placing himself among the incoming commander-in-chief’s top five donors.

The sizable donation from the executive chairman of 100% recycled paper and packaging company Pratt Industries puts him in elite company with big-dollar contributors like Elon Musk, Timothy Mellon, Miriam Adelson and Linda McMahon.

“As I’ve said many times before, President Trump was a great president and will once again be a great president,” Pratt said.

“I’ve been proud to support him not only by making this donation, but also by investing billions in well-paying American manufacturing jobs during his first presidency. I will do so again in his upcoming presidency,” he pledged.

Most of Pratt’s donation — $14 million — will go to the Make America Great Again, Inc. super PAC, with the remaining $1.1 million going toward Trump’s inaugural fund.

Pratt, 64, has built 70 factories in the US, creating some 12,000 manufacturing jobs, making him the largest Australian employer of Americans.

Pratt had been a frequent visitor to the US since the 1980s,but applied for permanent US residency late last year, which he was recently granted.

“We decided it was time to live in America because my family are all U.S. citizens and I wanted to devote more time growing my US business,” he said.

https://www.aol.com/aussie-businessman-anthony-pratt-donates-233246777.html

Meghan McCain backs Trump on push to retake Panama Canal: 'Very personal'

Dec. 23, 2024

Meghan McCain, the daughter of former Sen. John McCain, R- Ariz., on Sunday backed President-elect Donald Trump’s call for the United States to retake full control of the Panama Canal.

Trump wrote via Truth Social Saturday the Central American waterway is crucial for U.S. commerce, adding it is in America's interest to regain control of it. He urged Panamanian officials to cooperate upon his return to the Oval Office.

“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,” Trump wrote of the canal. “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.”

McCain, a self-described “political nepo baby,” took to X to back the president-elect’s plan.

“Trump is right about the Panama Canal,” she wrote. “This is very personal - my dad was born in the Panama Canal Zone.”

McCain, her late father and Trump have long had a tumultuous relationship. Trump's comments about former Sen. McCain, including claiming he was "not a war hero," previously stirred bipartisan outrage.

Panama's conservative president, José Raúl Mulino. rejected Trump’s claim to the canal, saying it threatens his country’s sovereignty. He released a video following Trump’s assertion saying “every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong” to Panama.

“Panamanians may have different views on many issues” Mulino said. “But when it comes to our canal, and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.”

Trump fired back via Truth Social, saying “we’ll see about that!” He also shared an image of the American flag over the canal, which he captioned “welcome to the United States Canal!”

The United States built the Panama Canal in the early 1900s as a more efficient shipping route for freighters traveling between the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean. Former President Jimmy Carter signed a 1977 treaty which relinquished control of the waterway to Panama.

Trump’s promise comes as he continues to outline plans for his second term. He delivered a wide-ranging political address Sunday, during which he vowed to end “transgender insanity” in United States schools.

“We will get critical race theory and transgender insanity the hell out of our schools and we’re going to get it out of our schools very fast,” Trump said, earning cheers from the audience. “I will defend religious liberty, I will restore free speech and I will defend the right to keep and bear arms.

https://kfoxtv.com/news/nation-world/meghan-mccain-backs-trump-on-push-to-retake-panama-canal-very-personal-john-donald-republicans-democrat-spolitics-shipping-senate-america