President Trump gets what he knows America needs. In this case, the end of China’s control of the Panama Canal.
From the linked article:
State Department representative Tammy Bruce said in a Sunday statement, “Secretary Rubio informed President Mulino and Minister Martínez-Acha that President Trump has made a preliminary determination that the current position of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party over the Panama Canal area is a threat to the canal and represents a violation of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal. Secretary Rubio made clear that this status quo is unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty.”
Trump told reporters Sunday night, “They’re not allowed to violate the agreement. China’s running the Panama Canal. It was not given to China. That was given to Panama, foolishly. But they violated the agreement. We’re going take it back, or something very powerful is going to happen.”
So it looks like President Mulino got the message loud and clear from Trump and Rubio, and he has adjusted accordingly.
There are many states and territories, geopolitically important, that are weak or even moribund.
President Trump, it seems, will not wait to see them grabbed by authoritarian Russia or communist China.
He is not a war-monger. He is a protector of freedom, including free speech. And he has great power. He can compel the delivery of the results he wants. It would be wise of the populations of vulnerable territories to turn voluntarily to the US for protection now.
Quote:
Shopify CEO Tobi Lutke slammed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for not acquiescing to President Donald Trump’s reasonable demands in order to avoid a trade war with the U.S.
Shopify — based in Ottawa, Canada — is the nation’s largest tech company and second largest publicly traded entity, with a net worth of about $150 billion, according to the New York Post.
“Canada thrives when it works with America together. Win by helping America win. Trump believes that Canada has not held its side of the bargain, and he set terms to prove that we still work together: get the borders under control and crack down on fentanyl dens,” Lutke posted Saturday on X. He is among Canada’s wealthiest citizens. "These are things that every Canadian wants its government to do, too. These are not crazy demands, even if they came from an unpopular source.These tariffs are going to be devastating to so many people’s lives and small businesses. Action has to be judged based on what it leads to, not how good it sounds or feels. Leadership is about doing what’s right, not what is popular. And hitting back will not lead to anything good. America will shrug it off. Canada will decline.”
Trump told reporters that he was not concerned about Canada’s decision to impose retaliatory tariffs.
“They don’t allow our farm products in, essentially. They don’t allow a lot of things in, and we allow everything to come in. It’s been a one-way street. We subsidize Canada by the tune of about $200 billion a year, and for what? What do we get out of it?” he asked.
The trade arrangements with Canada that Trump decries now, are precisely the ones he negotiated, himself, in his first term. He touted them as a huge success for America. He is rather disingenuous, no?
Please don’t get me wrong. Despite all this, I exuberantly applaud his program. What troubles me is this. For eight years I supported Trump enthusiastically, to the point of losing friends over him. Then, with these tariffs, I get kicked in the face by him. I’m sure my former friends are chuckling.
Why would Trump want Canada as the 51st state? There would never be a Republican President ever again.
Quote: U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to pause tariffs on Canada for 30 days after talking with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the afternoon of Feb. 3. The agreement between the two leaders entails Canada appointing a “fentanyl czar” and designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations, as well as committing C$200 million (US$139 million) for intelligence operations to combat fentanyl.
“Canada has agreed to ensure we have a secure Northern Border, and to finally end the deadly scourge of drugs like Fentanyl that have been pouring into our Country, killing hundreds of thousands of Americans, while destroying their families and communities all across our Country,” Trump wrote on Truth Social after his call with Trudeau.
In announcing the agreement on social media, Trudeau mentioned Canada’s previously announced C$1.3 billion (US$900 million) plan to boost border security, while saying around 10,000 frontline personnel will be working to protect the border.
The update came hours after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum reached a similar deal with Trump, with the two agreeing to pause tariffs for 30 days while Mexico sends 10,000 troops to the border to stop the flow of fentanyl.
“I just had a good call with President Trump,” Trudeau said.
“Canada is making new commitments to appoint a Fentanyl Czar, we will list cartels as terrorists, ensure 24/7 eyes on the border, launch a Canada- U.S. Joint Strike Force to combat organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering. I have also signed a new intelligence directive on organized crime and fentanyl and we will be backing it with $200 million.”
My preceding comments were directed at your previous posts. This is heartening. It appears Trumps threat of tariffs has worked again. I bow my head to this man.
