“A country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal”—Trump Nominates Kevin Marino Cabrera as U.S. Ambassador to Panama
Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Feb. 24, 2024 in National Harbor, Maryland. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)
In a bold Christmas Day announcement, President-elect Donald Trump revealed his nomination of Kevin Marino Cabrera as the next U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Panama. The announcement comes amid rising tensions between the two nations, with Trump sharply criticizing Panama’s control over the Panama Canal, a vital waterway that has been a point of contention for years.
“I am pleased to announce that Kevin Marino Cabrera will serve as the United States Ambassador to the Republic of Panama, a country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams,” Trump said in his statement.
Cabrera, a Miami-Dade County Commissioner and vice chairman of the International Trade Consortium, responded by expressing his gratitude for the nomination, saying he was “humbled” by the opportunity to serve in this role.
Trump’s announcement came shortly after his fiery remarks at a Turning Point USA conference in Arizona, where he proposed reclaiming control of the Panama Canal. Trump criticized the canal’s shipping fees, calling them “ridiculous” and accusing Panama of being unduly influenced by China.
“We’re being ripped off at the Panama Canal,” he declared, while also criticizing the treaties that led to the United States transferring full control of the canal to Panama in 1999.
Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino responded to Trump’s claims with a strong defense of the country’s sovereignty. While Mulino did not specifically mention Trump, he made it clear that Panama would continue to maintain control over the canal.
“Every square meter of the canal belongs to Panama and will continue to belong to our country,” he stated. He also explained that the canal’s shipping fees are based on expert assessments of operational costs and global demand, not arbitrary decisions.
Undeterred, Trump fired back with a provocative social media post, featuring an image of the U.S. flag planted in the canal zone, with the caption: “Welcome to the United States Canal!”
The Panama Canal, a 51-mile waterway critical to international trade, has long been a symbol of U.S.-Panama relations. Though the U.S. ceded control of the canal in 1999, it remains a contentious issue, especially now that Trump has zeroed in on what he perceives as unfair practices.
