Trump: "Return The Panama Canal To The United States"

“The Panama Canal is considered a vital national asset for the United State of America, due to its critical role to America’s economy, to the whole world’s economy, and national security. Has anyone ever heard of the Panama Canal? We’re being ripped off at the Panama Canal, like we are being ripped off everywhere else. A secure Panama Canal is crucial for US commerce and rapid deployment of the navy. From the Atlantic all the way to the Pacific, it is an incredible thing and cuts shipping times down to US ports by days and even weeks.

The United States is the number one user of the Panama Canal, with over 72% of all transit heading to or from US ports. Think of that. So, we built it, we are the ones who use it. They gave it away. Considered one of the great wonders of the world. The Panama Canal opened for business 110 years ago and was built at huge cost to the United States. It really is really big when you consider the lives and the treasure, the equivalent to $1.2 trillion. Thirty-eight thousand American men, almost all men, they went there to be construction workers, and dig, they were diggers, and they were brave. thirty-eight thousand men died from infected mosquitos in the jungles of Panama during the construction period. Think of that. We lost 38,000 men. Teddy Roosevelt was President of the United States at the time of its building and understood the strength of naval power and trade.

When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away, gave it away for one dollar, one dollar, during his term in office, it was solely for Panama to manage, not for China or any other country to manage. You see what’s going on there. China. It was likewise not given for Panama to charge the United States, its navy and its corporations doing business within our country, exorbitant prices and rates of passage, which they do. They charge us like, like, it’s a disgrace. Our navy and commerce have been treated in a very unfair, injudicious way. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous. Highly unfair, especially knowing the generosity that has been bestowed on Panama, I say very foolishly by the United States.

This complete rip-off of our country will immediately stop. It’s going to stop! The United States has a big invested interest in the secure, efficient and reliable operation of the Panama Canal, and that was always understood when they gave it to Panama. Can you believe that? We would never have done it if we thought what is happening now, can happen, and we would never, we will never, ever let it fall into the wrong hands. But it is falling into the wrong hands. It was not given for the benefit of others, but as a token of cooperation. It was given to Panama and to the people of Panama, but it has provisions you will treat us fairly and they haven’t treated us fairly.

If the principles, both moral and legal, of this magnanimous gesture of this giving are not followed we will demand the Panama Canal will be returned to the United States of America in full, quickly and without question. We are not going to stand for it. So, to the officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly.”

President-Elect Donald J. Trump’s speech at Turning Point USA, Phoenix, AZ, December 22, 2024, starting at 20-minute mark.

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE PANAMA CANAL

The notion of creating a water passage across the isthmus of Panama to link the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans dates back to at least the 1500s when King Charles I of Spain ordered a survey of a route along the Chagres River. Tantalizing as a potential shortcut from Europe to eastern Asia was, technology was not advanced enough to even attempt to build a water passage until France broke ground on a planned sea-level canal in 1880. This proved too difficult. They reorganized their efforts into building a lock canal instead.

America To The Rescue

After a push from GOP President Theodore Roosevelt, the United States purchased the French assets in the canal zone for $40 million in 1902. On November 6, 1903, the United States recognized the Republic of Panama, and on November 18 a treaty was signed with Panama, granting America exclusive and permanent possession of the Panama Canal Zone. In exchange, Panama received $10 million and an annuity of $250,000 beginning nine years later.

Construction was so difficult and dangerous, the project’s first two engineers quit. The third engineer, Army Lt. Col. George Washington Goethals, completed the project with the construction of the three locks along the canal route which lifted ships 85 feet above sea level, to man-made Gatún Lake in the middle. The entire enterprise was powered by electricity and run through a control board.

The Panama Canal officially opened on August 15, 1914. Completed at a cost of more than $350 million, it was the most expensive construction project in US history to that point. The Panama Canal cost the United States around $375,000,000, including the $10,000,000 paid to Panama and $40,000,000 paid to the French when they abandoned the project.

The transition to local oversight began with a 1977 treaty signed by President Jimmy Carter and Panama leader Omar Torrijos, with the Panama Canal Authority assuming full control on December 31, 1999

Panama Canal from the Pacific Ocean side.