“The Panama Canal, so we gave it away. The first thing they did, you know what they did? They raised the prices for the ships by four times, and they didn't lose one ship. And then they raised it again twice, and they didn't lose one ship. All they did was make tremendous amounts of money for years and years. How stupid was that?”
— Donald Trump, President
✦ Summary · July 2, 2026 AI-written summary of the news — not a direct quote
At an event in Medora, North Dakota, former President Donald Trump criticized the 1977 transfer of the Panama Canal to Panama, alleging that the country repeatedly increased shipping fees and that China is attempting to exert influence over the waterway. Speaking at the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library opening, Trump said the United States should not have relinquished control and vowed to prevent Chinese takeover. The canal’s handover, completed in 1999, stems from the Torrijos-Carter Treaties. Trump’s remarks highlight ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding the strategic route and reflect his continued focus on past U.S. policy decisions.
1 source on record
- indiatimes.com ↗︎02 JUL 2026