Trump: Carter was a ‘very fine’ person but Panama Canal moves were ‘a big mistake’

President-elect Trump stirred controversy on Tuesday when he criticized former President Jimmy Carter for negotiating away the Panama Canal, calling it a “very big mistake.” Trump’s comments came ahead of Carter’s state funeral later this week, where the former president will be honored for his service to the country.

Speaking at a press conference, Trump expressed his desire for the U.S. to reclaim the canal, which he believes was the reason Carter lost the 1980 presidential election to Ronald Reagan. Reagan also opposed the treaty negotiated by Carter to hand over the canal to Panama.

“It’s a bad part of the Carter legacy,” Trump remarked. “Giving the Panama Canal to Panama was a very big mistake. We lost 38,000 people. It cost us the equivalent of a trillion dollars, maybe more… They say it was the most expensive structure ever built. And giving that away was a horrible thing. And I believe that’s why Jimmy Carter lost the election, even more so than the hostages.”

Trump went on to lament that Carter allegedly “gave” the canal lands back to the Panamanians “for $1,” although reports indicate that no such exchange was mentioned in the treaty.

When questioned about his criticism of Carter on the day of his Washington wake, Trump acknowledged that Carter was a “very fine person,” but maintained that his decision to relinquish control of the canal was a mistake.

Trump’s plans to retake the canal have drawn support from unexpected sources, including Meghan McCain, daughter of the late Sen. John McCain, who praised Trump for his stance on the issue. McCain, whose father was born in the Panama Canal Zone, expressed personal significance in the debate over the canal’s ownership.

The late Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina also expressed reservations about the canal negotiations in the 1970s, warning of the potential consequences of surrendering U.S. sovereignty in the region.

Carter’s negotiations ultimately led to Panama gaining full control of the canal by 1999. Despite the controversy surrounding the decision, Carter’s other major diplomatic achievement – the peace accords between Egypt and Israel – continue to be upheld to this day.

In reflecting on the historical significance of the Panama Canal and the debate over its ownership, Trump’s comments have reignited discussions about U.S. foreign policy and the implications of past diplomatic decisions. As the nation prepares to honor President Carter’s legacy, the controversy surrounding the Panama Canal remains a point of contention in the ongoing political discourse.