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Newly re-elected President Donald Trump has surprisingly announced that the new US administration will “take back control of the Panama Canal”.
President Donald J Trump made the extraordinary pledge during his inauguration address as the nation’s 47th president today.
The 60th inaugural swearing-in ceremony was held earlier today inside the Capitol Rotunda, with Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts administering the oath of office and Vice President JD Vance sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
Former US presidents Joe Biden, Barack Obama, George W Bush and Bill Clinton attended alongside former vice president Kamala Harris, current Congress and Supreme Court members.
“He (President William McKinley) was a natural businessman and gave Teddy Roosevelt the money for many of the great things he did, including the Panama Canal, which has foolishly been given to the country of Panama,” President Trump said in a passage of the speech.
“The United States, I mean, think of this, spent more money than ever spent on a project before and lost 38,000 lives in the building of the Panama Canal.
“We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made. And Panama’s promise to us has been broken. The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated.
“American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape or form, and that includes the United States Navy.
“And above all, China is operating the Panama Canal. And we didn’t give it to China, we gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back.
“Above all, my message to Americans today is that it is time for us to once again act with courage, vigour and the vitality of history’s greatest civilisation.
“So as we liberate our nation, we will lead it to new heights of victory and success. We will not be deterred.
“Together, we will end the chronic disease epidemic and keep our children safe, healthy and disease-free. The United States will once again consider itself a growing nation, one that increases our wealth, expands our territory, builds our cities, raises our expectations and carries our flag into new and beautiful horizons.”
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino has reportedly rebuked the comments about the US seizing control of the Panama Canal.
“The canal is and will remain Panama’s and its administration will remain under Panamanian control with respect to its permanent neutrality,” Mulino said in an official statement.
The 82-kilometre artificial waterway that connects the Pacific and Atlantic oceans is considered to be of vital importance to US trade imports of vehicles and commercial goods by container ship, as well as US exports of commodities.
In addition, the re-elected US president also promised to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and restore the name of the great President William McKinley to Mount McKinley (named “Denali” as known by Alaskan native people and officially confirmed by President Barack Obama in 2015).
