China, in his words · 2024 campaign · № 102
Says soldiers of China are illegally operating the Panama Canal
“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.””
- Said
- , Post on Truth Social (@realDonaldTrump)
- Subject
- Panama Canal
- Threat
- Military threat
- Topic
- Foreign policy
- Era
- 2024 campaign
What the record showed
Panama's president, José Raúl Mulino, said the next day: "There are no Chinese soldiers in the canal, for the love of God." On Jan. 7, 2025, Trump said "China is running the Panama Canal" and declined to rule out military force to take control of it. A subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison had operated ports at both ends of the canal since 1997. Panama's Supreme Court ruled that concession unconstitutional on Jan. 29, 2026, and on Feb. 23, 2026, Panama transferred interim operation of the two terminals to units of Maersk and MSC.
Sources
- Donald J. Trump: "Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who ar...
- Panama’s president rejects Trump’s claim of Chinese interference at canal
- Press Conference: Donald Trump Holds a Media Event at Mar-a-Lago - January 7, 2025
- Hong Kong company’s concession to operate Panama Canal ports is ruled unconstitutional
- Panama cancels China-linked port deal, hands canal terminals to Maersk, MSC