President-elect Donald Trump made headlines Sunday during a rally in Arizona, where he argued that the United States must “retake” control of the Panama Canal. Trump described the 1999 handover of the canal to Panama, agreed upon under President Jimmy Carter, as a “terrible mistake.” He suggested that the U.S. should take action to stop being “ripped off” by Panama and curb China’s growing influence in the region.
The Panama Canal, a key global shipping route, was operated by the U.S. for decades. It currently handles 2.5% of global ocean traffic, playing a vital role in U.S. imports from Asia and exports of essential goods, including liquefied natural gas (LNG).
At the same rally, Trump also addressed rumors surrounding Elon Musk’s potential presidential ambitions. Last week, Musk made headlines for attempting to sway Republican members of Congress to oppose President Joe Biden’s new spending bill, which led to fears of a government shutdown. Musk faced criticism for acting as if he were already in a presidential role.
Trump took the opportunity to joke about Musk’s presidential prospects, stating, “He’s not going to be president. That I can tell you. I’m safe. You know why? He can’t be. He wasn’t born in this country.”
