In a rare moment of agreement, Meghan McCain, known for her frequent critiques of Donald Trump, publicly supported the president-elect’s fiery remarks on the Panama Canal. McCain’s alignment with Trump comes after the former president posted a pair of statements on his Truth Social account over the weekend, railing against what he called Panama’s “ridiculous” fees and asserting the canal’s strategic importance to U.S. national security.

Trump claimed the United States “would and will NEVER let it fall into the wrong hands” and argued that exorbitant fees charged by Panama represented a betrayal of the canal’s original purpose as a cooperative gesture between the two nations. Trump’s comments also criticized former President Jimmy Carter’s 1977 decision to transfer control of the canal to Panama, calling it a “foolish” move that undermined U.S. interests.

“The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States,” Trump wrote. “Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way. The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S. This complete ‘rip-off’ of our Country will immediately stop.” Trump wrote, “When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away, for One Dollar, during his term in Office, it was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else.”

His remarks struck a chord with many supporters but also sparked criticism from opponents who saw the statements as unnecessarily antagonistic toward a long-standing ally. For McCain, the issue struck close to home — literally. Her father, Senator John McCain, was born in the Panama Canal Zone in 1936, a fact she emphasized to frame her support. The outspoken daughter of the late Senator shared her unexpected support in a tweet, writing, “Trump is right about the Panama Canal. This is very personal — my dad was born in the Panama Canal Zone.”

Trump is right about the Panama Canal.

This is very personal – my dad was born in the Panama Canal Zone.

— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) December 23, 2024

At AmericaFest on Saturday, Trump said, “We’re being ripped off at the Panama Canal like we’re being ripped off everywhere else.” He then criticized the U.S. decision to relinquish control, claiming the country “foolishly gave it away.”

Panamanian President Mulino firmly said in a statement released on his X account: “Every square metre of the Panama Canal and the surrounding area belongs to Panama and will continue belonging [to Panama].” Trump responded by sharing a news article about Mulino’s declaration on Truth Social, adding the caption: “We’ll see about that!”

The canal is a significant waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Isthmus of Panama. It was completed in 1914 and initially controlled by the United States, which had taken over the construction from the French and then managed and operated the canal for many decades. The control and operation of the Panama Canal by the United States became a point of contention in Latin America. By the 1970s, pressures were mounting from the government of Panama and broader international communities for the U.S. to relinquish control of the canal to Panama.

The pivotal moment came under the presidency of Jimmy Carter. In 1977, President Carter signed the Torrijos-Carter Treaties with Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos. The treaties mandated the gradual transfer of the canal from the United States to Panama. The process was structured to complete by the end of 1999, which it did on December 31 of that year, thus transferring full control of the canal to Panama.

The treaties were controversial and faced considerable opposition within the United States, particularly from conservatives who viewed the relinquishment as a loss of American strategic assets and influence. Critics, like then-presidential candidate Ronald Reagan, opposed the treaties and argued that the canal was a vital U.S. asset that should not be given up.

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