President-elect Donald Trump announced his nominee for US ambassador to Panama on Wednesday.
Trump nominated Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera to the position after he proposed that the US take control of the Panama Canal – an idea he first floated over the weekend, claiming Panama was “robbing” US ships passing through the canal. CNN.
“I am pleased to announce that Kevin Marino Cabrera will serve as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, a country that is robbing us through the Panama Canal way beyond their wildest dreams,” Trump said in a statement. The president-elect added that Cabrera, who also worked for his presidential campaign in Florida, “will do a fantastic job representing our nation’s interests in Panama!”
A ship passes through the locks of the Panama Canal Miraflores near Panama City April 24, 2023 – A lack of rainfall due to global warming has forced the Panama Canal to reduce the draft of ships passing through the interoceanic passage, amid a water supply crisis that threatens the future of the seaway. Lake Alhajuela, in the province of Colon, 50 km north of Panama City, is one of the main lakes supplying the locks of the Panama Canal and is currently at its lowest level in years. (Photo: Luis ACOSTA / AFP)
On Wednesday, Trump continued to hint at US territorial expansion in social media posts, criticizing the management of the canal and again suggesting that the US should annex Canada and Greenland, a territory controlled by Denmark.
In a sarcastic Christmas message, Trump claimed Chinese soldiers were manning the Panama Canal and repeated his criticism that Panama exploits American ships using the passage.
“Merry Christmas to all, including the wonderful Chinese soldiers who lovingly but illegally operate the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people during its construction 110 years ago), always ensuring that the United States invests billions of dollars in ‘repairs’ but will have absolutely no no word on ‘anything,'” Trump wrote on his Truth Social social network.
In the same message, Trump referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “the governor,” again insinuating that Canada should become an American federal state. He also suggested that the citizens of Greenland “want the US to be there, and we will be there.”
In another post, Trump said he had spoken with hockey legend Wayne Gretzky about running for prime minister of Canada. Trump said Gretzky was not interested in the role, but urged Canadians to support Gretzky.
Trump’s apparent attempts to expand US territory appear in part to be a negotiating tactic in line with his broader goal of reshaping US trade policy. His proposal to make Canada the 51st nation comes as he threatens to raise tariffs on the country, while his call to take control of the Panama Canal was first presented as a warning to cut taxes on American ships.
It is not clear whether Trump’s expressed interests in US expansion reflect his real intentions. Trump’s transition team has previously declined to clarify the exact motives behind his statements and recent comments in public appearances.
Trump’s Christmas messages on social media also included wishing “Merry Christmas to radical left-wing lunatics” and attacking the 37 federal inmates whose death sentences were commuted to life in prison by President Joe Biden on Monday.
“I refuse to wish those lucky ‘souls’ a Merry Christmas, I’m going to tell them, GO TO HELL!” he said.
On Tuesday, Trump said he would direct his Justice Department to “vigorously pursue the death penalty” as he criticized Biden’s decision to commute the sentences of all but three inmates on the federal death row.
(Vijesti.ba)
