President-elect Donald Trump recently announced his pick for the U.S. ambassador to Panama, appointing Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera to the role. This decision comes amidst Trump’s controversial suggestions for U.S. territorial expansion and his criticism of current international operations. On social media, Trump has been vocal about his intentions, including a call for U.S. control over the Panama Canal and suggestions that Greenland and Canada could become part of the United States. These remarks have stirred debate and prompted questions about the seriousness of his proposals.
Trump's transition team has yet to clarify the motivations behind these statements. However, Trump's social media posts offer a glimpse into his intentions. In a recent sardonic Christmas message, he claimed that Chinese soldiers were operating the Panama Canal and accused Panama of exploiting U.S. vessels using the waterway. He reiterated his stance, saying, "Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in ‘repair’ money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about ‘anything’."
Trump's criticism extends beyond Panama. He has suggested that U.S. citizens want their country to expand into Greenland, asserting that "the citizens of Greenland want the US to be there, and we will." Additionally, he has made provocative statements about Canada, suggesting it should become the 51st U.S. state while threatening increased tariffs on Canadian goods.
In a surprising turn, Trump mentioned speaking with hockey legend Wayne Gretzky about running for prime minister of Canada. While Gretzky reportedly showed no interest in the role, Trump encouraged Canadians to support him.
Trump's foreign policy rhetoric reflects his broader goal of reshaping U.S. trade policy. His apparent push for territorial expansion appears to be a negotiating tactic aimed at influencing international agreements. His call to control the Panama Canal was initially presented as a warning to reduce fees for American ships using the waterway.
On domestic matters, Trump has been equally vocal. He condemned President Joe Biden's decision to commute the sentences of 37 federal inmates from death row to life in prison. Trump stated he would direct his Department of Justice to "vigorously pursue the death penalty" for these individuals. He also took to his Truth Social network, expressing disdain for those whose sentences were commuted: "I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky ‘souls’ but, instead, will say, GO TO HELL!"
