Trump Says He Wants US Control of Panama Canal, Greenland, and Canada

President-elect Donald Trump's remarks drew mixed reactions across the political spectrum.

The Details: In a post on Truth Social, Trump said Panama should either scale down "ridiculous" and "unfair" fees on American ships passing through the canal, or give control of the canal to the U.S. He also said Canada's economy and national security would benefit if the country became "our 51st state," and that Greenland "is needed... for National Security purposes" and its people "want the U.S. to be there." Panama's president and Greenland's prime minister each rebuffed Trump's suggestions, saying they would impede on their nations' sovereignty. Democrats criticized Trump's pressure on Panama as a way to enrich his friends in business.

For Context: The Panama Canal contributes 7.7% of Panama's GDP, and about 40% of U.S. container ship traffic runs through it. The U.S. under President Jimmy Carter signed a treaty to transfer control to Panama in 1972; the transition completed in 1999. Trump first brought up the concept of purchasing Greenland, which is owned by Denmark, in 2019.

How the Media Covered It: Fox News (Right bias) tied in recent insurgent attacks on cargo ships in the Red Sea to emphasize the importance of the Panama Canal on global shipping. It quoted a Republican U.S. representative who echoed Trump's rhetoric about the canal. MSNBC (Left bias) called Trump's remarks "inflammatory" for international relations, writing, "Trying to reclaim this bygone symbol of American dominance because Trump says so is as imperialistic as it gets."