President-elect Donald Trump announced Kevin Marino Cabrera as his pick for US ambassador to Panama, reports a Kazinform News Agency correspondent. Cabrera, a Miami-Dade County Commissioner and former campaign staffer, was chosen amid Trump’s renewed criticism of Panama’s handling of the canal, which he claimed is 'ripping off' American ships.
“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 said, praising Cabrera as a 'Fantastic' choice.
Trump also floated ideas about US territorial expansion in social media posts, suggesting the US take control of the Panama Canal, absorb Canada, and annex Greenland. He accused Chinese soldiers of illegally operating the canal and criticized Panama for exploiting American vessels.
In a sarcastic Christmas message, Trump wrote, “Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal… always making certain that the United States puts in Billions of Dollars in ‘repair’ money, but will have absolutely nothing to say about ‘anything".
In the same message, Trump referred to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as 'governor', once again hinting that Canada should become a U.S. state. He also claimed that the people of Greenland 'want the US to be there, and we will'.
Trump’s Christmas messages also included attacks on President Joe Biden’s commutation of 37 death row sentences, saying, “I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky ‘souls’ but, instead, will say, GO TO HELL"!
On Tuesday, Trump said he would direct his Department of Justice to 'vigorously pursue the death penalty' while criticizing Biden’s decision to remove all but three federal inmates from death row.
Earlier, Kazinform News Agency reported that President-elect Donald Trump vowed to overturn transgender-focused policies in the military, schools, and sports on the first day of his administration.