Panama president to speak to Trump amid canal tension
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said he is scheduled to speak with President Trump on Friday amid his efforts to reclaim the nation’s sought-after canal.
“I was told a few minutes ago by a senior official that I will be speaking with President Trump tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.,” Mulino wrote in a Thursday afternoon post on social platform X.
The meeting comes two days after the U.S. State Department alleged that government vessels can now pass through the country’s canal free of charge.
Mulino said the statement was “based on a falsity” and therefore “intolerable,” according to CBS News.
In the past, Trump has accused Panama officials of “overcharging” U.S. ships that pass through the waterway while alleging China has taken control of the trade port.
“American ships are being severely overcharged and not treated fairly in any way, shape or form, and that includes the United States Navy. And above all, China is operating the Panama Canal,” the president said in a previous statement.
Hutchison Ports PPC, a Hong Kong-based company, controls two separate canal ports, but Panama remains the overarching authority.
The White House did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment on the proposed meeting.
The Panamanian president met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday where the two discussed Trump’s concerns related to the Panama Canal operations.
Topics
-
Marco Rubio meets with Panama's president amid President Trump's demands over Panama Canal
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panama's president Sunday and warned the increased presence of Chinese companies and interests along the Panama Canal is "a threat" and the U.S. could ...CBS News - 3d -
Rubio meets with Panamanian president amid Trump's Panama Canal push
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino Sunday amid his first overseas trip, as the Trump administration makes a push for control of the Panama Canal.CBS News - 3d -
Panama president: 'Impossible' to negotiate over canal
Panama President José Raúl Mulino rejected negotiations over ownership of the Panama Canal, in the face of President Trump’s fixation on the U.S. retaking the trade waterway. Mulino’s remarks come ...The Hill - 6d -
Panama's president says there will be no negotiation about ownership of canal
Panama President José Raúl Mulino says there will be no negotiation with the United States over ownership of the Panama CanalABC News - Jan. 30 -
With Panama Canal-U.S. tensions rising, 'all options on the table,' warns Trump's top maritime official
Trump's new top maritime official Louis Sola tells CNBC 'all options on the table' to punish Panama and defend U.S. business, trade and national security.CNBC - Jan. 29 -
Russia warns Trump against seizing Panama Canal
Russia warned President Trump on Tuesday against seizing the Panama Canal, after he reiterated his intent to take control of the strategic waterway in his second inaugural address Monday. "We ...The Hill - Jan. 21 -
President of Panama: 'The canal is and will remain Panama's'
Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino says his nation intends to maintain control of the Panama Canal, after President Trump reiterated his intent to take control of the strategic waterway in his ...The Hill - Jan. 20 -
Why would Trump want Greenland and the Panama Canal?
Donald Trump says the U.S. needs control of Greenland and the Panama Canal "for national security." Here's why both places are so important.CBS News - Jan. 8 -
Trump suggests taking Greenland and Panama Canal by force
During an hourlong press conference, President-elect Trump mapped out headline-making plans for his administration — including seizing the Panama Canal and Greenland and renaming the Gulf of Mexico ...NBC News - Jan. 8 -
Panama Unsettled by Trump Threat to Seize Canal
Few took the president-elect’s combative comments at face value, but they still sent a shudder through a country that the United States has invaded before.The New York Times - Jan. 8
More from The Hill
-
Panama rejects free canal transit for US warships
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Panama rejects US claim ships can transit canal for free ...The Hill - 37m -
Zuckerberg visits White House to discuss advancing 'American tech leadership abroad': Meta
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg visited the White House on Thursday to discuss Meta's role in helping the Trump administration with America's international tech leadership, the company confirmed. "Mark ...The Hill - 38m -
NCAA prohibits transgender athletes in women's sports
The NCAA announced on Thursday it would no longer allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports and would limit participation to those assigned female at birth. The policy change, ...The Hill - 40m -
5 questions about DOGE's access to federal payment systems
Questions are swirling about how much access Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has to Americans’ personal data and sensitive federal payment systems. Soon after President ...The Hill - 51m -
Education Department investigating schools with transgender athletes
The Department of Education is investigating two colleges and a state athletic association for allowing transgender athletes to compete on women’s sports teams, probes in accordance with an ...The Hill - 1h
More in Politics
-
Johnson urges Senate to wait for House to "do its work" on Trump agenda
House Republicans met for several hours with Trump Thursday, after GOP senators planned move forward with their own plan to enact Trump's priorities.CBS News - 9m -
Panama rejects free canal transit for US warships
Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter {beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security The Big Story Panama rejects US claim ships can transit canal for free ...The Hill - 37m -
Zuckerberg visits White House to discuss advancing 'American tech leadership abroad': Meta
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg visited the White House on Thursday to discuss Meta's role in helping the Trump administration with America's international tech leadership, the company confirmed. "Mark ...The Hill - 38m -
NCAA prohibits transgender athletes in women's sports
The NCAA announced on Thursday it would no longer allow transgender athletes to compete in women’s sports and would limit participation to those assigned female at birth. The policy change, ...The Hill - 40m -
5 questions about DOGE's access to federal payment systems
Questions are swirling about how much access Elon Musk and his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has to Americans’ personal data and sensitive federal payment systems. Soon after President ...The Hill - 51m