President-elect Trump refuses to rule out military involvement in Panama Canal

Summary

Summary of "President-elect Trump Refuses to Rule Out Military Involvement in Panama Canal" – The NPR Politics Podcast

Release Date: January 7, 2025

In this episode of The NPR Politics Podcast, hosts Asma Khalid, Franco Ordonez, and Domenico Montanaro analyze a recent press conference held by President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. The discussion delves into Trump's policy proposals, foreign policy strategies, economic plans, and his stance on the ongoing Middle East crisis and the January 6th Capitol attack pardons.

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1. Trump's Press Conference Highlights

President-elect Donald Trump concluded a notably freewheeling press conference where he criticized the Biden administration's policies and laid out his own agenda. Key points from the conference include:

• Oil Drilling and Environmental Policies: Trump vehemently opposed Biden's restrictions on offshore oil drilling, pledging to reverse these measures on his first day in office.

  Donald Trump [01:06]: "We're going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring that covers a lot of territory. The Gulf of America. What a beautiful name. And it's appropriate."

• Renaming the Gulf of Mexico: Trump's proposal to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America underscores his broader strategy to assert American dominance and reshape geopolitical narratives.

• Territorial Expansion: He suggested ambitions to expand U.S. territory, specifically targeting Greenland and the Panama Canal, signaling a more aggressive foreign policy stance.

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2. Foreign Policy Stance

a. Relations with Allies

Trump's remarks reveal a shift towards a more transactional approach with traditional U.S. allies. The hosts note his intention to leverage military and economic tools to extract concessions:

• Canada and Mexico: Trump threatened massive tariffs and even considered renaming the Gulf of Mexico, paralleling past actions like George W. Bush's attempt to rename French Fries to Freedom Fries.

  Franco Ordonez [10:50]: "It reminded me of when George W. Bush tried to change the name of French Fries to Freedom Fries."

• Denmark and Greenland: He questioned Denmark's legal rights over Greenland, suggesting its cession to the U.S. for national security purposes.

  Donald Trump [04:59]: "We need Greenland for national security purposes... if they do, they should give it up because we needed financial security."

b. Panama Canal Comments

Trump expressed strong dissatisfaction with Panama's management of the canal, even not ruling out military intervention to reclaim control:

Donald Trump [04:18]: "They violated every aspect of the agreement, and it's. They've morally violated it also."

This rhetoric mirrors his previous administration's strained relations with NATO allies, emphasizing a desire for greater U.S. leverage and control.

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3. Middle East Crisis and Hostage Situation

A significant portion of the discussion centered on the ongoing war in the Middle East and the hostage situation in Gaza. Trump issued stern warnings that failure to release hostages by Inauguration Day would lead to severe consequences:

Franco Ordonez [07:07]: "They are arguing that these hostage negotiations... are being driven by Trump's strong language and strong threats."

Despite Trump's public threats, behind the scenes, there appears to be a collaborative effort between Trump-appointed officials and the Biden administration to negotiate the hostages' release. This dual approach highlights the complexity of transitioning power while addressing international crises.

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4. Economic Policies: Tariffs and Impact

Trump's strategy includes the use of tariffs as leverage against both allies and economic partners. The hosts discuss the potential ramifications of these tariffs on the U.S. economy:

• Impact on Prices and Imports: Imposing tariffs on countries like Mexico could lead to increased prices for consumers, particularly affecting grocery costs and essential goods.

  Domenico Montanaro [12:21]: "Prices... would obviously go up in price if you're levying huge tariffs against a country like Mexico."

• Trade Relationships: The reliance on Canadian oil and gas imports underscores the delicate balance Trump must maintain between asserting leverage and preserving essential economic ties.

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5. January 6th Capitol Attack Pardons

As the fourth anniversary of the January 6th Capitol attack approached, Trump addressed the topic of pardoning those involved. However, his responses lacked clarity:

Franco Ordonez [13:31]: "He was asked very specifically multiple times... he argued that [Ashley Babbitt] should not have been shot."

Trump confirmed his intention to issue major pardons but did not specify the scope or criteria, leaving uncertainty about whether only minor offenders or those with significant convictions would be pardoned.

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6. Hosts’ Insights and Analysis

The hosts provided nuanced perspectives on Trump's statements:

• Asma Khalid: Highlighted the pervasive theme of the U.S. being "ripped off" by allies and how this underpins Trump's foreign policy rhetoric.

• Franco Ordonez: Noted the similarities between Trump's current foreign policy approach and his previous administration's stance towards NATO allies.

• Domenico Montanaro: Emphasized the interplay between Trump's economic policies and geopolitical positioning, suggesting that Trump's actions are aimed at reinforcing American dominance in the international arena.

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7. Conclusion

The episode concludes with the hosts acknowledging the uncertainty surrounding Trump's imminent transition into the White House. They underscore the importance of monitoring Trump's policies and actions closely, given his assertive and often unpredictable approach to both domestic and international issues.

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Notable Quotes:

• Donald Trump [01:06]: "We're going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America..."

• Donald Trump [04:59]: "We need Greenland for national security purposes... if they do, they should give it up because we needed financial security."

• Franco Ordonez [13:31]: "He argued that [Ashley Babbitt] should not have been shot."

• Domenico Montanaro [12:21]: "Prices... would obviously go up in price if you're levying huge tariffs against a country like Mexico."

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This comprehensive analysis by The NPR Politics Podcast provides listeners with an in-depth understanding of President-elect Trump's policy directions and the potential implications for both domestic and international landscapes. The inclusion of direct quotes and timestamped references allows for precise context, ensuring that the summary captures the essence of the original discussion.

Transcript

[Franco Ordonez]

Hey, y'all, this is Brett in Denver.

[Domenico Montanaro]

I'm with my cat Carl Sagan on the way to the vet. He's not super happy about it, but at least I've got the NPR Politics pod to keep me entertained.

[Asma Khalid]

This podcast was recorded at 1:42pm Eastern Time on Tuesday, January 7th of 2025.

[Domenico Montanaro]

Things may have changed by the time you hear it, but Carl will still be pretty upset about having to go.

[Asma Khalid]

To the vet again.

[Domenico Montanaro]

All right, enjoy the show. I feel like this is not the first Carl Sagan cat who's appeared on the NPR Politics.

[Asma Khalid]

On the politics. Hey there. It's the NPR Politics podcast. I'm Asma Khalid. I cover the White House.

[Franco Ordonez]

I'm Franco Ordonez. I also cover the White House.

[Domenico Montanaro]

And I'm Domenico Montanaro, senior political editor and correspondent.

[Asma Khalid]

And just a bit ago, President elect Donald Trump wrapped up another freewheeling news conference at his residence at Mar a Lago in Florida in which he railed against the Biden administration's plans to limit oil drilling, suggested he would rename the Gulf of Mexico.

[Donald Trump]

We're going to be changing the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America, which has a beautiful ring that covers a lot of territory. The Gulf of America. What a beautiful name. And it's appropriate.

[Asma Khalid]

And he suggested he wanted to expand American territory, taking over Greenland and the Panama Canal. There was a lot in this press conference, and it feels like we heard a lot of different complaints, a lot of different policy plans. Franco, you were there in the room, so I wanna begin with you. What stood out to you?

[Franco Ordonez]

Yeah, I thought you put it pretty well with the freewheeling. I mean, it really was a rather lengthy, circuitous just kind of route he took. It really started off on Biden's new ban on offshore drilling, which Trump said he was going to reverse on his first day in office. He also, you know, complained about vote counting, del, problems with the courts, with judges, with, you know, the Justice Department or what he called the injustice department. He talked about Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan. He criticized gas heaters and shower heads and faucets. He even complained about windmills and the impact they're having on Wales.

[Asma Khalid]

Domenico, what caught your ear?

[Domenico Montanaro]

Well, I mean, I think that the big thing here is the focus on foreign policy. I think was was pretty heavy on a lot of that. I mean, whether it was UKRA or, you know, this sort of splashy, sensational stuff about buying Greenland for national security purposes or making Canada, jokingly, I think, a 51st state or Wayne Gretzky, Prime Minister of Canada, potentially, or the Gulf of America or Governor, whichever he prefers. But, you know, look, I mean, there's a huge focus, and all of those people that we're talking about, all those countries we're talking about, are mostly American allies. I mean, Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of Denmark, Canada, Mexico, these are very close allies of the United States. And I think Trump is showing again that he's gonna take a pretty firm hand with allies to see that he can have some leverage over these folks who the United States either helps protect or in NATO alliance with. And, you know, Trump looks like he's gonna, again, take a pretty strong hand with those countries, you know, which is something that a lot of allies complained about during the first Trump presidency.

[Asma Khalid]

What struck me is that the through line in most of his discussions today around foreign policy was this idea that America is getting ripped off, that some allies were taking advantage of the United States. Right. This is something he brought up in his conversations about Canada. It's something he sort of suggested, too, about the Panama Canal, that this was a bad deal. Franca, what stood out to you and how he was describing the United States role with different countries around the world?

[Franco Ordonez]

I mean, just starting with the Panama Canal, I thought it was pretty profound. He did not rule out military intervention. I mean, he was pretty strong about that. You know, he blamed Jimmy Carter for giving, you know, in his words, giving away the Panama Canal.

[Donald Trump]

We gave it away for a dollar. But the deal was that, you know, they have to treat us fairly. They don't treat us fairly. They charge more for our ships than they charge for ships of other countries. They charge more for our navy than they charge for navies of other countries. They laugh at us because they think we're stupid, but we're not stupid anymore. So the Panama Canal is under discussion with them right now. They violated every aspect of the agreement, and it's. They've morally violated it also.

[Franco Ordonez]

I mean, he really, you know, did not hold back Greenland the same. Also talking about potential, you know, he did not rule out military intervention.

[Donald Trump]

Well, we need Greenland for national security purposes. I've been told that for a long time, long before I even ran. I mean, people have been talking about it for a long time. You have approximately 45,000 people there. People really don't even know if Denmark has any legal right to it, but if they do, they should give it up because we needed financial security. That's for the free world. I'm talking about protecting the free world.

[Franco Ordonez]

And he said, regardless, if something is not done. He threatened massive tariffs against Denmark. I mean, it really, you know, you talked about, you know, allies and threatened allies and the United States taken advantage of. It really just sounded so much of his complaints about NATO in the first administration, which he has continued to, you know, talk about here, saying that they are not paying enough money and promising or pledging to, you know, push those countries to raise not only 3% of their defense spending, which is something they've agreed to, to boost it even higher to 5%.

[Domenico Montanaro]

You know, this is all about money and geopolitical positioning. I mean, Greenland potentially for drilling, you know, Canada, you know, about half of U.S. imports of oil and gas come from Canada. The Panama Canal Zone is obviously important for shipping. He also talked about, you know, China running the Panama Canal, but there's no evidence that China is running the Panama Canal. It's Panama that runs the Panama can. Trump clearly wants to be the one to assert American dominance in the west and in especially the Northern Hemisphere.

[Asma Khalid]

I want to ask you about another major foreign policy crisis, and that is the war in the Middle East. We heard the president elect today reiterate his threat that all hell would break loose if the hostages being held in Gaza are not released by Inauguration Day. And Franco, what I thought was really striking is that he brought up his Middle east negotiator to the mic, and they were talking about, you know, what they've been doing on this issue. And yet, you know, the Biden administration is still technically in charge and also working on this issue. And I just thought that was a really striking moment.

[Franco Ordonez]

He did bring up Steve Whitake, who is, you know, one of his envoys working on this. Witkoff said that he was actually going to go to the region either later today or, or tomorrow to work on this. It was interesting hearing from him because he definitely set a different tone from the one that Trump was saying, and he spoke with us a little bit after as well, that the Biden administration is being very collaborative and that they are including the Trump officials in these discussions, that he is talking with top Biden officials every day. So it is kind of fascinating. There is a collaborative effort that said they are arguing that these hostage negotiations, according to Witkoff and to the Trump people, that it's being driven by Trump's strong language and strong threats, as we heard, again, very emphatically, many, many times that all hell will break out if the hostages are not returned home before his inauguration.

[Domenico Montanaro]

Yeah, And I think that if you're talking about, you know, a lot of all of these sort of sensational things that Trump was throwing out there or his grievances and complaints that we've heard repeatedly. If you strip away a lot of what he's talking about, he's really talking about how he wants to transition into the White House and the kind of president that he wants to be, to be able to keep the economy robust in the view that he has of how that should happen. So drilling, you know, for oil, whether that's opening up more leases within the United States or offshore, which is what makes him so upset about the Biden administration protecting these 625 million acres, you know, as well as being able to explore further to deregulate and to get foreign investment, which is what he had started the press conference talking about.

[Asma Khalid]

All right. Well, on that note, let's take a quick break, and we're going to be back in a moment. And we're back. Earlier today, Trump again brought up this idea of imposing massive tariffs on both the United States, neighbor to the north, Canada, and its neighbor to the south, Mexico, even going so far as to say he would rename the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Domenico, is this part of his broader strategy to somehow control immigration, or do you see this as a real economic policy vision?

[Domenico Montanaro]

Well, I think that he uses tariffs and the potential for military force as threats that he holds out over countries that are even ostensibly US Allies, Especially, you know, you think about countries like Canada and Mexico, which the United States has had obviously very close ties with. Right. And I think that's the easiest way to be able to hold leverage over countries that you are friends with, that you're allies with, to be able to say, you know, if you like all the stuff we're doing for you, you gotta pay a little bit more. And that's kind of his philosophy, rather than trying to play nice with them. So we don't know how much of what Trump is holding out to them is an actual threat or how much of it, you know, he will follow through on. But it's always been part of his strategy, whether it's as president or in business, to say something pretty extreme and pretty far to say that I'll go there, it doesn't matter if you don't cooperate with me.

[Franco Ordonez]

Yeah, and he uses just to add to that. I mean, he uses the tariffs for, you know, for leverage on everything, whether it's economic trade, but particularly on immigration when it comes to Mexico and Canada. And I don't know about you guys, but the Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America. It reminded me of when George W. Bush tried to change the name of French Fries to Freedom Fries.

[Asma Khalid]

So I hear what you all are saying about this being sort of a negotiation tactic. But, you know, we also have a prior Trump term to look at, and tariffs were widely used as a tool by Donald Trump during his first term in office. And so Franco, do you feel that by listening to his address today, his remarks, his responses to questions, that you're getting a glimpse into how he might govern in a couple of weeks?

[Franco Ordonez]

I mean, yes and no. I think a lot of this is talk, a lot of this is negotiations. He is negotiating advance. Clearly, he has been in this job before, and he's bringing back a lot of people who know how the system operates, and they really, really want to start with a big bang. It's not just the Trump administration. Every new presidential administration has kind of a certain amount of time to get the big things done. And I think that's what Trump is trying to do with these negotiating tactics, making these big pronouncements. That is part of it. But he knows that some of these countries, like Mexico, like Canada, they don't have kind of the economy, the infrastructure, the resources to, you know, it's very risky for them, let me say, to kind of call Trump's bluff. If it is a bluff, they have to be very careful how hard they push back.

[Domenico Montanaro]

Yeah. I mean, think about Mexico, right? I mean, 88% or so, according to the U.S. government, of their horticultural exports go to the United States. So, in other words, a lot of the food that Mexico makes, the crops that they, that they harvest are destined for the United States. I mean, but there's an irony in Trump wanting to use tariffs as a threat against a country, country like Mexico, when it comes to this kind of thing. Because we think about the biggest issue in the election. It was prices, right? Grocery prices, whether it's, you know, avocados or anything else that you could think about, right? I mean, those things would obviously go up in price if you're leveling huge tariffs against a country like Mexico.

[Asma Khalid]

So I want to ask you all about one other really important issue before we wrap up today's show. Yesterday was the fourth anniversary of the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. And Donald Trump has stated that he will be pardoning those involved in that January 6th attack. He was asked about this a couple of times in different ways today. And Franco, did you feel like you got clarity on what he intends to do?

[Franco Ordonez]

Yeah, I think definitively on that one. Very little clarity on that front. I mean, he was asked very specifically multiple times whether he would post pardon those who attacked police officers. Trump said this was something they would look at, but pretty much immediately kind of spun to Ashley Babbitt, who was, you know, kind of the Trump supporter who was shot and killed in the US Capitol. He argues that she should not have been shot.

[Domenico Montanaro]

Yeah, he was being totally dodgy there. And, you know, asked specifically about whether or not he would pardon people who had assaulted police officers and like you said, went directly toward, you know, defending his people who had rushed the Capitol. So we don't have a lot more clarity. But he did say, I'll be making major pardons. Yes. And he has pledged to do that on day one previously. So we're going to see just exactly who he winds up pardoning, whether it's people who pleaded guilty to trespassing at the Capitol or whether or not he's going to pardon people who've have gotten decades in prison, you know, for things like conspiracy and plotting to essentially stop what happened that day violently.

[Asma Khalid]

All right. Well, we will be keeping an ear and an eye out on all of those developments as they happen. Let's leave it there for today's show. I'm Asma Khalid. I cover the White House.

[Franco Ordonez]

I'm Frank Ordonez. I also cover the White House.

[Domenico Montanaro]

And I'm Domenico Montanaro, senior political editor and correspondent.

[Asma Khalid]

And thank you all, as always, for listening to the NPR Politics podcast.