President-elect Donald Trump reiterated his criticism of former President Jimmy Carter's decision to hand control of the Panama Canal back over to Panama during his presidency. Trump referred to the Panama Canal as a 'disgrace' and suggested that the United States received the short end of the deal. He mentioned that Carter had given control of the canal to Panama for just $1, with the expectation that the US would be treated well.
During his time in office, Carter negotiated treaties that paved the way for the transfer of the Panama Canal, a strategic waterway that had been constructed and managed by the US, to Panama. Trump has previously expressed his desire to regain control of the canal, a proposal that was promptly rejected by the Panamanian government.
It remains unclear how Trump would enforce such a request on a friendly, sovereign nation to relinquish control of its own territory. His recent criticism of Carter coincides with the passing of the 39th president, who died at the age of 100 on December 29.
