US President-elect Donald Trump has sharply criticized the late former President Jimmy Carter for his role in ceding control of the Panama Canal to Panama, calling the decision a “disgrace.”
During a news conference on Tuesday at Mar-a-Lago, Trump slammed Carter’s diplomatic negotiations in 1977 that led to the Panama Canal Treaty, which handed authority over the critical waterway to Panama.
Trump voiced his strong disapproval of the treaty, claiming that Carter’s actions were detrimental to the national interest.
“The Panama Canal is a disgrace. What happened there? Jimmy Carter gave it to them for $1, and they were supposed to treat us well. I thought it was a terrible thing to do,” Trump stated.
This latest attack on Carter comes amid Trump’s growing rhetoric about securing vital locations for national and economic security, including the Panama Canal, Greenland, and even the potential annexation of Canada.
Trump has repeatedly emphasized the strategic importance of these areas, arguing that they are necessary for the security and economic future of the United States.
The Panama Canal, which they finished constructing in 1914, was under control until the 1977 treaty, which transferred oversight to Panama.
Trump’s statements echo his broader goal of revisiting international agreements and ensuring dominance in key strategic locations worldwide in his incoming administration.
