Panama president hits back at Trump over canal U.S. takeover comments

U.S. president-elect Donald Trump threatened Sunday to reassert U.S. control over the Panama Canal, accusing Panama of charging excessive rates to use the Central American passage — comments that drew a sharp rebuke from Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino.

Speaking to a crowd of supporters in Arizona on Sunday, Trump also said he would not let the canal fall into the "wrong hands," warning of potential Chinese influence on the passage.

China does not control or administer the canal, but a subsidiary of Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings has long managed two ports located on the Caribbean and Pacific entrances to the canal.

The president-elect's comments came hours after he levelled a similar threat against Panama in a post on Truth Social on Saturday night.

"Has anyone ever heard of the Panama Canal?" Trump said on Sunday at AmericaFest, an annual event organized by Turning Point, an allied conservative group. "Because we're being ripped off at the Panama Canal like we're being ripped off everywhere else."