President-elect Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Panama and globalist influencers seeking to take advantage of the "magnanimous" gift of the Panama Canal built and funded by America.
"It's falling into the wrong hands," Trump told Turning Point Action's AmericaFest in Phoenix, Arizona, on Sunday morning in a speech that aired Sunday on Newsmax and the free Newsmax2 streaming platform. "It was not given for the benefit of others by a token of cooperation, but it was given to Panama and to the people of Panama.
"But it has provisions: You got to treat us fairly, and they haven't treated us fairly.
"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 the United States of America in full, quickly and without question. I'm not going to stand for it.
"So, to the officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly."
Trump vowed to end the "complete rip off" of the benefits of the cross Central America passage from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.
"We're being ripped off at the Panama Canal, like we're being ripped off everywhere else," Trump told his crowd in his new pre-administration policy priority.
"This complete rip off of our country will immediately stop."
Trump noted American interests represent "72% of all transits heading to or from U.S. ports" through the canal.
"So we built it; we're the ones that use it," Trump said. "They gave it away. Considered one of the world's — really 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.
"And it really is big when you consider the lives and the treasure the equivalent of $1.2 trillion today, you don't hear those numbers."
Also, American labor and even lives were given at enormous cost, Trump added.
"They were diggers, and they were brave: 38,000 men died from infected mosquitoes in the jungles of Panama during the construction period. Think of that: We lost 38,000 men."
Trump hit Democrat President Jimmy Carter for giving the canal way to the benefit of others.
"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 $1, $1 during his term in office.
"It was solely for Panama to manage, and not for China or any other country to manage."
Trump lamented Panama is charging for transit now.
"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," Trump said. "They charge us.
"It's a disgrace.
"Our Navy and commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, highly unfair, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama, I say, very foolishly by the United States.
"This complete rip off of our country will immediately stop. It's going to stop."
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