In a wide-ranging gaggle with the press on Sunday evening, President Donald Trump took direct aim at China’s growing control over the Panama Canal, the escalating trade war with Canada and Mexico, and what he called “radical lunatics” at USAID.
From tariffs to foreign aid, Trump painted a picture of an America being exploited on multiple fronts—vowing that under his leadership, those days would be over.
As Secretary Rubio is on his first foreign trip to Latin America, where he is expected to bring up the issue of China’s influence over the Panama Canal, Trump laid out his own position in unmistakable terms.
“China is running the Panama Canal. It was not given to China, it was given to Panama foolishly. But they violated the agreement, and we’re going to take it back, or something very powerful is going to happen.”
Trump’s strongest rebuke came against Canada’s trade policies, which he accused of exploiting U.S. economic ties while offering little in return.
“It’s been a one way street. We subsidize Canada to the tune of about $200 billion a year. And for what? What do we get out of it? We don’t get anything out of it…Something is going to happen there. If they want to play the game, I don’t mind, we can play the game all they want. Mexico, we’ve had very good talks with them.”
United States has been ripped off by virtually every country in the world.
Donald Trump
When asked if tariffs would lead to higher prices for Americans, Trump acknowledged the potential for short-term discomfort but argued that the long-term benefits outweigh the costs.
“We may have short term a little pain, and people understand that. But long term, the United States has been ripped off by virtually every country in the world. We have deficits with almost every country, not every country, but almost, and we’re going to change it. It’s been unfair.”
Asked whether he had spoken to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau or Mexican leaders, Trump confirmed that conversations were planned but downplayed expectations.
“I’m speaking with Prime Minister Trudeau tomorrow morning and I’m also speaking with Mexico tomorrow morning. And I don’t expect anything very dramatic. We put tariffs on. They owe us a lot of money, and I’m sure they’re going to pay.”
As for what it would take to lift the tariffs, Trump outlined three key demands:
“They have to balance out their trade, number one. They’ve got to stop people from pouring into our country, and we’ve stopped it. They haven’t stopped it. We’ve stopped it. They have to stop people pouring in, and we have to stop fentanyl. And that includes China.”
The European Union, it’s an atrocity what they’ve done.
Donald Trump
Trump also took aim at the European Union, calling its trade policies “an atrocity” and signaling that tariffs on European goods remain on the table.
“The UK is way out of line, and we’ll see. The UK, but European Union is really out of line. UK is out of line but I’m sure that one, I think that one can be worked out. But the European Union, it’s an atrocity what they’ve done.”
Elon is doing a good job.
Donald Trump
Perhaps the sharpest attack of the night was reserved for USAID, the federal agency responsible for distributing foreign aid around the world. Trump bluntly described its leadership as ideologically extreme.
“It’s been run by a bunch of radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out. USAID, run by radical lunatics, and we’re getting them out, and then we’ll make a decision,” he declared.
One topic that arose was Trump’s assessment of Elon Musk’s leadership. Trump offered measured praise, particularly for the billionaire’s approach to cost-cutting.
“I think Elon is doing a good job. He’s a big cost-cutter. Sometimes we won’t agree with it and we’ll not go where he wants to go. But I think he’s doing a great job. He’s a smart guy. Very smart. And he’s very much into cutting the budget of our federal budget.”
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