Post from Truth Social

Has anyone ever heard of the Panama Canal? Because we're being ripped off at the Panama Canal like we're being ripped off everywhere else. A secure... He just said, "Take it back." It's a good idea. Where do you come from, sir? He doesn't come from Panama. Yeah, good. A secure Panama Canal is crucial for U.S. commerce and rapid deployment of the Navy from the Atlantic all the way to the Pacific. It's an incredible thing and drastically cut shipping times down to U.S. sports by days and even weeks. The United States is the number one user of the Panama Canal with over 72 percent of all transits heading to or from U.S. sports. Think of that. So we built it. We're the ones that use it. They gave it away. Considered really one of the great wonders of the world. The Panama Canal opened for business 110 years ago and was built at huge cost to the United States and it really is big when you consider the lives and the treasure, the equivalent of 1.2 trillion dollars today. You don't hear those numbers. 38,000 American men, almost all men, they went there to be construction workers and dig. They were diggers and they were brave. 38,000 men died from infected mosquitoes in the jungles of Panama during the construction period. Think of that. We lost 38,000 men. Teddy Roosevelt was president of the United States at the time of its building and understood the strength of naval power and trade. When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away, gave it away for one dollar, one dollar, during his term in office, it was solely for Panama to manage and not for China or any other country to manage. You see what's going on there? China. [Applause] It was likewise not given for Panama to charge the United States its Navy and its corporations doing business within our country, exorbitant prices and rates of passage, which they do. They charge just like, like it's a disgrace. Our Navy and commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, highly unfair, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama, I say very foolishly, by the United States. This complete rip-off of our country will immediately stop. It's gonna stop. The United States has a big invested interest in the secure, efficient, and reliable operation of the Panama Canal, and that was always understood when they gave it to Panama. Can you believe that? We would never have done it if we thought what's happening now can happen, and we would never, and we will never, ever let it fall into the wrong hands.

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