President-elect Trump made controversial remarks on Tuesday regarding the Panama Canal, criticizing former President Jimmy Carter's decision to negotiate its transfer to Panama. Trump labeled the move as a 'very big mistake' and suggested that it significantly impacted Carter's loss in the 1980 presidential election.
During a press conference, Trump expressed his belief that the handover of the Panama Canal was a detrimental aspect of Carter's legacy. He emphasized the perceived negative consequences of the decision, stating that it resulted in the loss of 38,000 jobs and incurred a financial cost estimated to be in the range of a trillion dollars or more.