Trump calls for U.S. to reclaim Panama Canal amid rising fees and Chinese presence

President-elect Donald Trump recently suggested that the U.S. should reclaim the Panama Canal, criticizing high fees and increased Chinese activity in the area. He claimed the canal was not meant for others to profit from and emphasized U.S. interests. Panamanian President Mulino responded, asserting that the canal belongs to Panama. Trump replied, "We’ll see about that," indicating his disagreement with Mulino's statement. Former Rep. Max Rose commented on CNN that Trump had not mentioned the canal during his campaign, implying that financial interests may be influencing Trump's new focus on the issue.