President-elect Donald Trump Announces Pick for US Ambassador to Panama
President-elect Donald Trump has announced his choice for US Ambassador to Panama, naming Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera for the position. Trump made the announcement after suggesting that the US should take control of the Panama Canal, which he claims is “ripping off” American ships that pass through the waterway.
Trump stated in a release that he is “pleased to announce” Cabrera, who also worked for his presidential campaign in Florida, will “do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nation’s interests in Panama!” Trump’s suggestion to take control of the Panama Canal is not the only expansion of US territory he has proposed, as he has also claimed that the US should absorb Canada and Greenland.
In a social media post, Trump continued to criticize the operation of the canal and reiterated his opposition to the Canadian government, addressing Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as “governor” and suggesting that Canadians want the US to take control of the country. He also proposed a hypothetical scenario in which Wayne Gretzky, a hockey great, could become the prime minister of Canada.
Trump’s administration has faced criticism for its stance on the Panama Canal, and it’s unclear whether his expressed interest in expanding the US is genuine or a negotiating tactic to reshape US trade policy. Trump’s transition team has declined to provide further clarification on the matter.