Staff Reports
Mick Mulvaney recently weighed in on President-elect Donald Trump’s bold rhetoric about possibly reclaiming the Panama Canal, comparing it to a magician’s trick—except the rabbit in this case is a negotiating tactic. In an interview with NewsNation, he elaborated on how Trump’s inclination to throw around threats often serves as a clever poker face while he’s actually playing the long game. It’s like Trump’s version of “I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed”—except the disappointment comes with the threat of military involvement.
According to Mulvaney, Trump’s negotiations hinge on that ever-elusive “credible threat.” The idea that Trump might actually rattle the sabers so fiercely that it makes Panamanian officials wonder if the Big Guy would really send in the troops adds an intriguing twist to their conversations. After all, other politicians seem to prefer pastels and tea parties. Meanwhile, Trump is swinging for the fences, leaving everyone guessing if he might actually knock one out of the park—or, in this case, claim the canal back.
Over the weekend, Trump made it crystal clear that he views the Panama Canal as not just a ditch filled with water but as a vital national asset that has opened wider than the proverbial floodgates for American commerce and military mobilization. The man knows how to make a case. He pointed out that America uses the canal for over 70 percent of its shipping, making it as essential as apple pie on the Fourth of July. It’s a shocking reminder that this American treasure, which cost thousands of lives and lots of treasure to build, is now at the mercy of a foreign government.
Mulvaney Explains What's Really Going on With Trump's Panama Threat
https://t.co/kfw0Nor0sD— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) December 24, 2024
Trump enthusiastically recalled that back in the day, Teddy Roosevelt recognized the strategic might of naval power and trade. When President Jimmy Carter decided to hand over the canal in exchange for a single dollar, the move was about as wise as paying a dollar for a used lottery ticket. Trump did not mince words as he described how Panama should re-evaluate the exorbitant charges being slapped on the U.S. today. He made it clear that any fees perceived as a rip-off would not stand under his watch.
Ultimately, Trump isn’t just talking about the canal; he’s speaking to principles of fairness and respect for American interests. The idea of the canal falling “into the wrong hands” resonates like a siren call to those who value national pride and strategic resources. Trump knows that if Panama isn’t following the moral and legal principles laid down by a past era of cooperation, it might be time for the United States to reclaim what was once its own—without so much as a “please.” With Trump at the helm, it’s clear that the days of letting foreign governments dictate terms to the United States are over.
