CNN
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President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday introduced his choose for US ambassador to Panama.
Trump named Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera as his selection for the submit after suggesting that the US ought to take management of the Panama Canal – a proposal he first floated over the weekend whereas claiming that Panama is “ripping off” American ships that move via the waterway.
“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 mentioned in a press release. The president-elect added Cabrera, who additionally labored for his presidential marketing campaign in Florida, “will do a FANTASTIC job representing our Nation’s interests in Panama!”
Trump on Wednesday continued to tease US territorial growth in social media posts, criticizing the operation of the canal and doubling down on solutions the US ought to take in Canada and Greenland, a territory managed by Denmark.
In a sardonic Christmas message, Trump claimed Chinese language troopers are working the Panama Canal and reiterated his criticism that Panama is exploiting US vessels that use the waterway.
“Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago), always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in ‘repair’ money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about ‘anything,’” Trump wrote on his Reality Social community.
In the identical message, Trump referred to as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau “governor,” once more insinuating Canada ought to turn out to be a US state. He additionally instructed the residents of Greenland “want the US to be there, and we will.”
In one other submit, Trump mentioned he spoke to hockey nice Wayne Gretzky on Wednesday about working for prime minister of Canada. Trump mentioned Gretzky wasn’t within the position however urged Canadians to rally assist for Gretzky.
Trump’s obvious push to develop US territory appears, partly, to function a negotiating tactic aligned together with his broader objective of reshaping US commerce coverage. Trump’s suggestion that Canada turn out to be the 51st US state comes as he threatens to lift tariffs on the nation, and his name to take management of the Panama Canal was first introduced as a warning to decrease charges on American ships that journey via the waterway.
It’s unclear whether or not Trump’s expressed curiosity in increasing the US mirror of his earnest intentions. Trump’s transition group beforehand declined to make clear the precise motivations behind his statements and up to date feedback in public remarks.
Trump’s Christmas messages on social media additionally included wishing “Merry Christmas to the Radical Left Lunatics” and an assault on the 37 federal inmates whose sentences President Joe Biden on Monday commuted from dying row to life in jail.
“I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky ‘souls’ but, instead, will say, GO TO HELL!,” he mentioned.
On Tuesday, Trump mentioned he would direct his Division of Justice to “vigorously pursue the death penalty” whereas criticizing Biden’s choice to take away all however three federal inmates from dying row.
