‘We’re Taking It Back!’ Trump Rants About Retaking the Panama Canal During Inaugural Address

President Donald Trump said the US would take back the Panama Canal on Monday during his inaugural address as claimed the waterway system had been seized by China.

The declaration followed weeks of threats by the incoming president to take back the canal, which Panama retained control of at the turn of the century following a treaty both countries signed during Jimmy Carter’s presidency.

Shortly after Trump was sworn in on Monday by Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, he laid out his policy goals for his second term. Among them, he said, was taking back the Panam Canal. Trump said:

President McKinley made our country very rich through tariffs and through talent. He was a natural businessman and gave Teddy Roosevelt the money for many of the great things he did, including the Panama Canal, which has foolishly been given to the country of Panama after the United States. The United States, I mean, think of this, spent more money than ever spent on a project before and lost 38,000 lives in the building of the Panama Canal.

We have been treated very badly from this foolish gift that should have never been made. And Panama’s promise to us has been broken. The purpose of our deal and the spirit of our treaty has been totally violated. 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. And we didn’t give it to China. We gave it to Panama, and we’re taking it back!

José Raúl Mulino, the President of Panama, said last month that the country would never cede the canal back after taking it in 1999.

“As President, I want to express precisely that every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent zone is Panama’s and will continue to be so. The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable,” Mulino said.

Watch above via MSNBC.