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DetlefK

(16,496 posts)
Sun Dec 22, 2024, 08:26 AM Sunday

Trump demands that Panama hand over control of Panama-Canal to US. (It's a distraction.)

https://www.rawstory.com/trump-panama-canal-threat/

Trump on Saturday took to his own social media site, Truth Social, to issue a threat to local Panama officials about the famous Panama Canal.

...

"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. It was likewise not given for Panama to charge the United States, its Navy, and corporations, doing business within our Country, exorbitant prices and rates of passage," Trump added. "Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. 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."

...

"We would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands! It was not given for the benefit of others, but merely as a token of cooperation with us and Panama," Trump then added. "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. To the Officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly!"



He surely talks a big game. So far he has threatened to invade Canada and Mexico and now Panama.

My guess:
Trump is procrastiworking. (Busying yourself with irrelevant tasks to avoid dealing with the important stuff.)

Trump knows that The People are expecting results from him.
He knows that they are keeping an eye on taxes.
On inflation.
On grocery-prices.
On gas-prices.
On healthcare-prices.
On housing-prices.
And he has no idea how to deliver anything in any of those areas.

That's why he is drumming up these pathetic jingoistic international conflicts:
Because he needs to look like he is busy with something.
He needs to look like he is SOMEHOW delivering on SOMETHING.
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Walleye

(36,458 posts)
1. This issue is even phonier than it was 50 years ago. And the canal is obsolete anyway.
Sun Dec 22, 2024, 08:40 AM
Sunday

He thinks you just threaten people and everything will turn out all right. I guess it’s always worked for him. Not this time though.

ProfessorGAC

(70,654 posts)
2. Ghost Written
Sun Dec 22, 2024, 08:52 AM
Sunday

"Injudicious"? "Magnanimous"? "Exorbitant"? "Please be guided accordingly"?
He didn't write any of that.

doc03

(36,972 posts)
7. It is obvious he didn't write the other tweet about him being the president,
Sun Dec 22, 2024, 09:48 AM
Sunday

not Musk. Not all caps and no word salad.

EndlessWire

(7,296 posts)
6. Isn't the Panama Canal
Sun Dec 22, 2024, 09:41 AM
Sunday

in trouble? I seem to remember that the locks were shallow now and becoming unnavigable? Also, another country is going to try to build a rival canal, although it will cost billions and take a lot of time?

I am tired of our asshole "president" threatening other countries to get what HE wants (money). Doesn't really matter if it is a distraction. Other nations hear it. It's embarrassing. Thanks a lot, tRump voters. Proud of your guy? What does Panama have to do with migrants or pharma, the two issues you voted to have a bully fix?

Maybe he wants President Musk to come in and spend billions to fix the locks. I dunno, but VP tRump is picking on those nations who can't really fight back. I hope Panama tells him to eff off. Really the only way to handle it.

Seems to me that Panama is on the Revenge Tour. Wasn't there something about the tRump brand being taken down off buildings in Panama? They must be on the Kill List.

Freethinker65

(11,165 posts)
8. Read somewhere Panama says Trump owes some money to Panama for a Trump resort there
Sun Dec 22, 2024, 10:10 AM
Sunday

Trump might be threatening to save himself some money.

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