President-elect Donald Trump refused to rule out utilizing navy drive to seize the Panama Canal and Greenland on Tuesday, saying U.S. nationwide safety is determined by profitable management of the 2 territories.
In a free-wheeling press convention, Trump additionally vowed he would change the identify of the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America” and proclaimed a brand new American “golden age” when he returns to the White Home in two weeks.
“We’re at the beginning of a great golden age of business and we’re also at a golden age of common sense,” Trump advised reporters at his Mar-a-Lago property. “We’re going to have a lot of fun making America great again. Since the election, the perception of the whole world is different.”
President-elect Donald Trump listens as Hussain Sajwani, CEO of DAMAC Properties, speaks throughout a information convention at Mar-a-Lago, Tuesday, Jan. 7, 2024, in Palm Seashore, Fla. (AP Picture/Evan Vucci)
Trump fired off broadsides at a number of different nations, together with neighbors Canada and Mexico, together with Denmark, which guidelines Greenland as an abroad territory of 45,000 individuals.
“We want to get along with everyone, but it takes two to tango,” Trump stated. “The people are going to probably vote for independence or to come into the U.S.”
Trump spoke as presidential son Donald Trump Jr. jetted into Greenland’s capital of Nuuk for what he stated was a daylong non-public go to and to shoot video footage for his podcast.
Denmark has stated it could not negotiate over the way forward for Greenland, though its residents, who’re Danish residents, might vote for independence.
“Greenland is not for sale,” Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen stated Tuesday.
Panama says it received’t cede even “an inch” of its territory across the canal, a stance that has broad help throughout Latin America.
Trump additionally disregarded a query about whether or not he plans to pardon those that have been convicted of attacking law enforcement officials throughout the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol.
“We’re looking at the whole thing, but yes I’ll be making major pardons,” he stated.
Trump repeated his warning to the Palestinians and Israel that he needs a deal for the discharge of the hostages and a ceasefire in Gaza earlier than he takes workplace on Jan. 20.
“It will not be good, frankly, for anyone,” Trump stated. “All hell will break out. I don’t have to say any more, but that’s what it is.”
The soon-to-be commander-in-chief stated he hopes to satisfy with Russian premier Vladimir Putin quickly after returning to workplace to launch an effort to dealer a peace deal in Ukraine.
Trump blamed President Biden for scary Russia into invading its neighbor by suggesting Ukraine might be part of NATO.
“I could understand [Russia’s] feelings about that,” stated Trump, repeating a pro-Kremlin speaking level. “It was always understood. They had a deal and Biden broke it.”
Probably the most eyebrow-raising a part of the rambling hour-long efficiency got here when Trump dished out threats at allies over his pet causes.
He appeared lethal critical about forcing Denmark to relinquish political management over resource-rich Greenland and flatly refused to rule out taking navy motion.
“People really don’t know if Denmark has any right to [Greenland]. But if they do, they need to give it up,” Trump stated. “We need it for national security purposes.”
Trump warned that he would slap tariffs on Denmark if the Scandinavian ally doesn’t play ball and warned issues might escalate from there.
“It might be you have to do something,” he stated.
Trump additionally sounded a troublesome word on Panama, saying he would take no matter motion is required to take again the territory across the canal, which the U.S. gave again to the central American nation within the Nineteen Seventies.
He riffed on his suggestion that Canada can be higher off becoming a member of the U.S., calling the lengthy border between the 2 nations an “artificial line” and saying each peoples can be higher off if it didn’t exist.
Not like Panama and Greenland, Trump promised to not invade our northern neighbor, saying he would use “economic actions” to win concessions on commerce and safety coverage.
“They should be a state,” he stated. “We’ve been good neighbors but we can’t do it forever.”
Canadian is embroiled in a political disaster and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau introduced Monday he’ll step down. However there seems to be no political urge for food for a merger with the U.S.
