Trump names ambassador to Panama after demanding canal be returned to US control

On Christmas Day, Trump announced on Truth Social, "I am pleased to announce that Kevin Marino Cabrera will serve as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, a Country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams."

"Kevin is a fierce fighter for America First principles. As a Miami-Dade County Commissioner, and Vice Chairman of the International Trade Consortium, he has been instrumental in driving Economic growth, and fostering International partnerships. In 2020, Kevin did an incredible job as my Florida State Director and, this year, advanced our MAGA Agenda as a Member of the RNC Platform Committee," he added. "Few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin - He will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nation’s interests in Panama!"

Cabrera serves as the vice chair of Miami-Dade's International Trade Consortium and also worked on Trump's reelection campaign for 2020 in the Sunshine State, according to Politico. Trump said in another post on Christmas, adding in his comments about the situation in Panama: "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.'"

Over the weekend, Trump made a post about how Panama could "return" the canal back to the United States after former President Jimmy Carter "foolishly gave it away, for One Dollar, during his term in Office." Carter signed a treaty in 1977 that gave control of the canal away in 1999. Trump also warned that the canal could fall into the "wrong hands," possibly referring to China's growing influence over the canal.

Panama President José Raúl Mulino responded to Trump's post regarding the canal, and said that control of the key waterway would remain with Panama: "The sovereignty and independence of our country is non-negotiable." China, which controls two port zones in the canal, according to Newsweek, backed Panama in keeping the canal in a statement issued earlier this week. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning responded, "The Panama Canal is a great creation of the people of Panama. It is a golden waterway for connectivity among countries."

The Panama Canal has been under the control of the country since 1999 but was originally built by the United States. Carter signed the Torrijos-Carter Treaties with Panamanian leader in 1977, Omar Torrijos. It dictates that Panama would receive control of the waterway as well as that the neutrality of the canal would be defended by the US.

The 50-mile waterway connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans and is a vital waterway to allow for shipping to avoid the long journey down and around the bottom of South America. American construction on the canal began in 1904 and was finished in 1914, per US Office of the Historian. Panama signed an agreement for the canal with President Teddy Roosevelt as the US was backing the country's independence from Columbia in 1903.