Donald Trump is once again making headlines with provocative remarks about expanding the U.S. footprint into Panama, Greenland, and even Canada, sparking both intrigue and concern. This weekend, he stirred up controversy by suggesting the U.S. might "take back" control of the Panama Canal—a statement that caught the attention of both allies and adversaries alike.
Speaking to conservative activists in Arizona, Trump issued a warning to Panama’s leaders: lower the fees on American ships using the canal or risk facing U.S. wrath. "So to the officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly," he said, sending a not-so-subtle message that America's interests come first.
These remarks come as part of a broader, nationalist vision that seems increasingly reminiscent of Manifest Destiny—the 19th-century belief in the United States' divine right to expand its borders. While Trump once campaigned on reducing U.S. involvement in foreign affairs, his recent comments suggest a keen interest in regaining control over strategic assets and expanding U.S. influence abroad.
On top of the Panama Canal issue, Trump reaffirmed his earlier claim that Greenland is an “absolute necessity” for U.S. national security and global freedom. This echoes his 2019 proposal to buy the Danish territory—a move that was quickly rebuffed by both Denmark and Greenland, but that Trump now seems eager to revisit. "We will talk with them a little bit," he said on Sunday, reviving the idea with his latest announcement of appointing PayPal co-founder Ken Howery as ambassador to Denmark.
Trump’s Panama Canal comments, in particular, have drawn sharp responses. Panama’s president, José Raúl Mulino, was quick to declare that the canal is "not negotiable" and proudly reaffirmed Panama’s control over the waterway, which the U.S. handed over in 1999. Yet, this has only fueled Trump’s rhetoric. He doubled down on social media, posting a picture of an American flag flying over the canal, captioned: "Welcome to the United States Canal."
For his part, Mulino dismissed Trump’s criticism, calling it "gross ignorance of history" and highlighting Panama’s successful stewardship of the canal, including a major expansion project that has brought multimillion-dollar profits to the country’s economy. Despite this, Trump and his supporters remain undeterred, with memes and images circulating online in support of the idea.
Meanwhile, Trump’s remarks on Canada have taken on a more playful tone, though they still raise eyebrows. Following a dinner with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at Mar-a-Lago, Trump teased the idea of annexing Canada, saying, "I think it’s a great idea." This seems more like political banter, but it’s part of a larger pattern where Trump uses bold, provocative language to keep foreign leaders on edge and set the stage for future negotiations.
This rhetoric fits well within his broader "America First" agenda, which has often included tough talk on trade and border security. His comments about potentially designating Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and using military force on Mexican soil to combat fentanyl production illustrate this aggressive, nationalist posture.
As the transition team declined to clarify whether these latest comments reflect genuine policy ambitions or just political theater, Trump’s unpredictable approach continues to keep the world guessing. Whatever the motivations behind his recent musings, they are certainly pushing the boundaries of international diplomacy, keeping foreign leaders—and citizens—on high alert.
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