Trump: All U.S. Commerce And Military Ships Should Pass Through Suez And Panama Canals ‘Free Of Charge’

A cargo ship and tugboat sail through the Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, in Panama, on August 12, 2024. Next August 15 the Panama Canal celebrates its 110th inauguration anniversary. (Photo by ARNULFO FRANCO / AFP) (Photo by ARNULFO FRANCO/AFP via Getty Images)
A cargo ship and tugboat sail through the Cocoli Locks at the Panama Canal, in Panama, on August 12, 2024. (Photo by ARNULFO FRANCO/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Staff Blake Wolf
8:44 AM – Sunday, April 27, 2025

President Donald Trump asserted on Saturday that American military and cargo ships should travel through the Panama Canal and Suez Canal for free.

The Panama Canal was built by the United States starting in 1904, and was ceded to Panama by former President Jimmy Carter in 1977.

“American Ships, both Military and Commercial, should be allowed to travel, free of charge, through the Panama and Suez Canals! Those canals would not exist without the United States of America. I’ve asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to immediately take care of, and memorialize, this situation!” Trump wrote.

Last December, President Trump accused China of having major influence over the management of the Panama Canal, while accusing Panama officials of charging the United States “exorbitant prices.”

“When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away, for One Dollar, during his term in office, it was solely for Panama to manage, not China, or anyone else. It was likewise not given for Panama to charge the United States, its Navy, and corporations doing business within our country, exorbitant prices and rates of passage…The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary that has been bestowed to Panama by the U.S.,” Trump wrote at the time.

The Panama Canal plays a critical role in connecting the Caribbean Sea with the Pacific Ocean, while the Suez Canal connects the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea.

“The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL National Asset for the United States, due to its critical role to America’s Economy and National Security. A secure Panama Canal is crucial for U.S. commerce, and the rapid deployment of the Navy from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and drastically cuts shipping times to U.S. ports. The United States is the number one user of the Canal, with over 70 percent of all transits heading to, or from, U.S. ports,” Trump added.

The president has repeatedly expressed his interest in “taking back” the canal while previously refusing to rule out economic or military force to do so, although President Trump’s new proposal of allowing U.S. ships to pass through for free may alter his previous stance.

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Donald Trump Halts Military Aid for Ukraine: What it Means for Zelenskiy, Europe

US President Donald Trump has ordered a pause in all military aid to Ukraine, turning up the heat on Volodymyr Zelenskiy. The U.S. is holding up all pending military assistance until Trump determines Ukraine’s leaders demonstrate a good-faith commitment to peace, according to a senior Defense Department official who asked not to be identified. The announcement comes only days after the two held a meeting in the Oval Office which left Washington's support for Kyiv in doubt. Bloomberg's Oliver Crook breaks down the situation and what it means.

Trump Pauses All Military Aid to Ukraine

COMBO) This combination of pictures created on February 25, 2025 shows US President Donald Trump (L) on February 22, 2025, and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 12, 2025.. Ukraine has agreed on the terms of a minerals deal with the United States and could sign it February 28, 2025, the two countries said, a move Kyiv hopes will lead to future security guarantees from Washington. The Ukrainian source said President Volodymyr Zelensky could sign the deal on a trip to Washington as early as February 28, 2025, -- a timetable confirmed by Trump. (Photo by Alex WROBLEWSKI and Tetiana DZHAFAROVA / AFP) (Photo by ALEX WROBLEWSKITETIANA DZHAFAROVA/AFP via Getty Images)
COMBO) This combination of pictures created on February 25, 2025 shows US President Donald Trump (L) on February 22, 2025, and Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky on February 12, 2025. (Photo by ALEX WROBLEWSKITETIANA DZHAFAROVA/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN Staff Sophia Flores
5:07 PM – Monday, March 3, 2025

The Trump administration has announced that it will be pausing all military aid to Ukraine, including weapons in transit on aircraft and ships, and those waiting in Poland.

The pause will be in effect until the U.S. can determine that Ukraine’s leaders demonstrate a good-faith commitment to peace — which has not been evident in the slightest as of late.

“This is not a permanent termination of aid, it’s a pause,” Fox News quoted a Trump administration official as saying.

The news comes just days after President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy for a meeting in the Oval Office.

Zelensky expressed that he was not interested in making a peace deal with Russia, despite claiming that Ukraine needs “just and lasting peace.""

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Victor Davis Hanson: Pete Hegseth’s Military

The Pentagon’s budget is going to shrink and Americans are going to get better “bang for their buck” under Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s leadership, argues Victor Davis Hanson on today’s edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words.” “Did you notice that of all the controversial Trump nominees—Kash Patel, Pete Hegseth, Pam Bondi, RFK, Tulsi Gabbard—the Left went after Pete Hegseth the most vehemently? And he required JD Vance to break that tie. There was a reason for that. He is proposing radical changes in the Pentagon. Remember where we are right now with the Pentagon. We spend $820 billion a year. It's about 14% of the entire budget and it's immune to criticism. It really is. “And we are building $14 billion carriers. We're building $85 billion F-35s. We have built $140 million F-22s. We're seeing, in Ukraine and the Middle East, the entire mode of 21st-century warfare being revolutionized. It's more of—not that we're going to have bad quality, but it's more quantity than quality. They're flooding the zones with cheap drones—cheap drones on the ocean, in the air, and on land. “And we're not there yet. We're not doing it. So what Pete Hegseth wants to do is change the entire manner of procurement.”

U.S. announces nearly $6B in military, budget aid to Ukraine

U.S. President Joe Biden announced nearly $6 billion in additional military and budget assistance for Ukraine, including about $2.5 billion in security assistance for the war-torn country. With Biden’s tenure ending in just a few weeks, the 82-year-old is using his final days in office to boost aid to Kyiv before President-elect Donald Trump takes power.

Cybertruck Bomber and New Orleans Terrorist Were Both Military Veterans Who Served at the Same Base

(Background Image) First responders, some wearing Hazmat gear, gather outside the Fashion Show mall across from the Trump International Hotel & Tower Las Vegas as they investigate a Tesla Cybertruck that exploded in front of the hotel’s entrance on January 01, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) / (Center image) 37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger. (Photo via: Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department)

OAN Staff Blake Wolf
1:29 PM – Thursday, January 2, 2025

The now-deceased man responsible for Wednesday’s Cybertruck explosion in front of the Las Vegas-based Trump Hotel was a U.S. Army Green Beret who was previously deployed to Afghanistan twice, according to The Associated Press.

The man also reportedly served at the same base as the New Orleans (NOLA) New Year’s Day terrorist, who drove a rented truck with an ISIS flag through a crowd of people in the early hours of the morning. Additionally, both him and the NOLA terrorist utilized the same company to rent their vehicles.

37-year-old Matthew Livelsberger had parked his rented Cybertruck in front of Trump’s Las Vegas hotel.

The vehicle was filled with firework-like explosives, eventually going off and injuring seven bystanders near the blast in addition to killing Livelsberger. Metropolitan Police Department Sheriff Kevin McMahill explained that he was found dead inside the vehicle with a “self-inflicted gunshot wound” to the head, with the handgun found at his feet.

Livelsberger reportedly served in the Army since 2006, rising through the ranks through multiple deployments until he was able to serve in the Green Berets, a highly trained special forces unit working to combat terrorism.

The former Green Beret was also awarded two Bronze Stars, along with a valor device for courage under fire, a combat infantry badge, and an Army Commendation Medal with valor.

The FBI stated that it was “conducting law enforcement activity at a residential address in Colorado Springs,” adding that the activity “is related to the explosion in Las Vegas on Wednesday; due to the ongoing nature of the investigation, no further information will be provided outside of Denver.”

Livelsberger’s time in the military saw him working closely with critical intelligence capabilities in the special forces, allowing him access to highly sensitive military information. He was most recently stationed at Camp Panzer Kaserne in Germany, where he served as a remote and autonomous systems manager responsible for “operations, maintenance and integration” of drones for the Army.

Meanwhile, Livelsberger has now been linked to Shamsud-Din Jabbar, the radicalized terrorist and former Army veteran who killed at least 15 people on New Year’s Day after ramming his truck into a crowd of people on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Both men rented the vehicles they used to commit their attacks from “Turo,” a vehicle rental company, simultaneously attacking within a few hours of each other.

Both men also served at Fort Bragg, now known as Fort Liberty.

 

terrorist Shamsud-Din Jabbar, 42. (Photo via: FBI)

 

Another strange “coincidence” is that Jabbar and Livelsberger also both reportedly lived in North Carolina at the same time, according to the New York Post.

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Mike Johnson Blocks $24B In Military Aid To Ukraine: ‘Not The Place Of Biden To Make That Decision’

WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 28: U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) talks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on June 28, 2024 in Washington, DC. Johnson said that members of President Joe Biden's cabinet should "search their hearts" and evoke the 25th Amendment to remove him from office after his performance at Thursday's presidential debate against former President Donald Trump. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) talks to reporters at the U.S. Capitol on June 28, 2024 (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

OAN Staff Blake Wolf
3:55 PM – Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson rejected passing an additional $24 billion in aid to Ukraine on Wednesday, explaining that he would instead wait for incoming President-elect Donald Trump’s decision on the matter.

The request came after the White House’s Office of Management and Budget requested additional Ukrainian aid from Congress, which reportedly included $8 billion in weapons purchases and an extra $16 billion to repair and replace U.S. military equipment that was damaged in the war.

“As we predicted and as I said to all of you, weeks before the election, if Donald Trump is elected it will change the dynamic of the Russia war on Ukraine, and we’re seeing that happen,” Johnson stated.

“So, it is not the place of Joe Biden to make that decision now, we have a newly elected president and we’re going to wait and take the new commander in chief’s direction on all that so I don’t expect any Ukraine funding to come up now,” he continued.

The White House’s latest request aimed to provide additional aid to Ukraine through 2026 in preparation for the incoming Trump administration, which seeks to put an end to the war through diplomatic means.

“I want to get Russia to settle up with Ukraine and stop this – millions of people being killed, far greater than the number you read about. But I want to get that done before I even take office, I want to get that done as president-elect, because it has to be solved – too many people dying, too many cities are just in rubble right now, you look at the cultures just being destroyed. We’ve got to get that done, and I’ll get it done,” Trump stated.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claims that “the hot stage of the war” could end if Ukraine was admitted into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

However, Americans who have expressed concern regarding the United States running out of funds have argued that aiding the Russia-Ukraine war is futile for the U.S. as a whole, and some have accused President Zelenskyy of carelessly sacrificing his own men in order to join NATO and take control of Crimea, which Russia has already maintained will never be taken from them.

“If we want to stop the hot stage of the war, we should take under the NATO umbrella the territory of Ukraine that we have under our control. That’s what we need to do, fast. And then Ukraine can get back the other part of its territory diplomatically,” Zelenskyy stated.

Trump campaigned on ending the Ukraine war, and he likely plans on doing so through negotiation as his special envoy to the conflict, Keith Kellog, has proposed withholding aid to Ukraine if its leaders do not engage in diplomatic negotiations rather than violence.

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The Taliban parades U.S. military equipment at Bagram Air Base

Will Trump Demand Back Weaponry Harris & Biden Gave to Taliban? ~ VIDEO

Taliban showing off U.S. Military equipment left behind by the Biden-Harris administration
Taliban show off U.S. military equipment left behind by Biden-Harris administration

As soon as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took office, they undid most of President Trump’s successes.

Besides their shutting down of the Keystone pipeline and opening up President Trump's southern border wall, their withdrawal from Afghanistan was especially irresponsible and dangerous. The Biden/Harris withdrawal was a strategic nightmare in the way they rushed to remove the troops before safely evacuating thousands of innocent people and American Citizens. Not only did the withdrawal put lives in danger and ultimately get people killed, but the Biden/Harris administration also left behind approximately $83 billion worth of military weaponry, vehicles, arms and other gear.

 

The full list of equipment left behind in Afghanistan by Joe Biden and Kamala Harris includes:

• 2,000 Armored Vehicles Including Humvees and MRAPs
• 75,989 Total Vehicles: FMTV, M35, Ford Rangers, Ford F350, Ford Vans, Toyota Pickups, Armored Security Vehicles etc.
• 45 UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters
• 50 MD530G Scout Attack Helicopters
• ScanEagle Military Drones
• 30 Military Version Cessnas
• 4 C-130s
• 29 Brazilian made A-29 Super Tucano Ground Attack Aircraft
• Heavy Equipment, Including Bull Dozers, Backhoes, Dump Trucks, Excavators
• =208+ Aircraft Total
• At least 600,000+ Small arms M16, M249 SAWs, M24 Sniper Systems, 50 Calibers, 1,394 M203 Grenade Launchers, M134 Mini Gun, 20mm Gatling Guns and Ammunition
• 61,000 M203 Rounds
• 20,040 Grenades
• Howitzers
• Mortars +1,000’s of Rounds
• 162,000 pieces of Encrypted Military Communications Gear
• 16,000+ Night Vision Goggles
• Newest Technology Night Vision Scopes
• Thermal Scopes and Thermal Mono Googles
• 10,000 2.75 inch Air to Ground Rockets
• Reconnaissance Equipment (ISR)
• Laser Aiming Units
• Explosives Ordnance C-4, Semtex, Detonators, Shaped Charges, Thermite, Incendiaries, API/APIT
• 2,520 Bombs
• Administration Encrypted Cell Phones and Laptops ALL operational
• Pallets with Millions of Dollars in the U.S. Currency
• Millions of Rounds of Ammunition including but not limited to 20,150,600 rounds of 7.62mm, 9,000,000 rounds of 50.caliber
• Large Stockpile of Plate Carriers and Body Armor
• US Military HIIDE, for Handheld Interagency Identity Detection Equipment Biometrics

Since President Trump’s efforts to keep Americans safe and prevent foreign wars were so grossly mishandled by the Biden/Harris Administration, will he retrieve that military equipment, which was left in the hands of the Taliban, or will he demand some sort of compensation in exchange?

Is the return of equipment a valid request, or should we just consider a gift from Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to the terrorists?

The 2nd Amendment is not a privilege. It’s your right.
Dan Wos,
Author – Good Gun Bad Guy
Host – The Loaded Mic


About Dan Wos, Author – Good Gun Bad Guy

Dan Wos is available for Press Commentary. For more information, contact PR HERE

Dan Wos is a nationally recognized 2nd Amendment advocate, Host of The Loaded Mic and Author of the “GOOD GUN BAD GUY” book series. He speaks at events, is a contributing writer for many publications, and can be found on radio stations across the country. Dan has been a guest on Newsmax, the Sean Hannity Show, Real America’s Voice, and several others. Speaking on behalf of gun-rights, Dan exposes the strategies of the anti-gun crowd and explains their mission to disarm law-abiding American gun-owners.

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Dan Wos

Silence from the White House after Taliban parade abandons American weapons

 

'The Bottom Line' panelists Chad Robichaux and Tim Kennedy reflect on the three-year anniversary of the Taliban taking over Afghanistan.

Taliban Celebrates 3 Years: Western Weapons Flaunted at Military Parade | Vantage with Palki Sharma

Taliban Victory Parade: Missiles, Aircraft, Humvees, & Artillery From U.S., India, Russia On Display

Taliban Parades US Military Equipment At Bagram Airfield In Afghanistan | Harris | Biden | N18G

Taliban conducted a parade at Bagram Airfield, showcasing U.S. military equipment left behind after the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021. The event, held as part of the Taliban’s celebration of what it calls “victory day,” was an assertive display of power at what was once the largest U.S. and NATO base in the country. During the event, Taliban leaders reiterated their call for international engagement, claiming that they have created conditions for “good relations” with the region and the world. “Our message to the world is not to worry. We take our freedom from them, but we do not seek retribution. "We have provided a good opportunity and have good intentions to cooperate in rebuilding Afghanistan,” said Sirajuddin Haqqani, the Taliban’s interior minister. Bagram Airfield was a central hub for U.S. and NATO forces throughout the two-decade war in Afghanistan. Former President Donald Trump, in an chat on X on Monday, referred to the Taliban as the “biggest arms seller” of U.S. military equipment left behind in Afghanistan. He claimed that $85 billion worth of military hardware remained in the country after the American withdrawal in August 2021. Despite the Taliban’s calls for international recognition and cooperation, its three years in power have been marked by severe restrictions on women’s rights and freedoms. No country has formally recognized the Taliban government. Respect for human rights, particularly women’s rights, and the formation of an inclusive government have been key demands from both regional powers and the broader international community. Abdul Kabir, the Taliban’s deputy chief minister, also spoke at the Bagram event, addressing global concerns. “We are keeping regional and global rivalries out of Afghanistan. "We tell the world that we can have discussions and address any misunderstandings,” Kabir said. He claimed that diplomatic engagement with Afghanistan is increasing, with embassies reopening, foreign political delegations visiting, and Taliban representatives stationed on nearly 40 diplomatic missions abroad.

New Unearthed Videos Raise More Questions About Tim Walz’ Military Record, w/ Jashinsky and Johnson

Megyn Kelly is joined by Emily Jashinsky of UnHerd and Eliana Johnson of the Washington Free Beacon to talk about new controversies regarding VP Tim Walz and his military service, unearthed videos of how others mischaracterized his record and his refusal to correct them, the apparent lack of vetting by the Harris campaign, and more.

Megyn Kelly Unloads Over Media Gaslighting of Americans, From Kamala Harris to "Tampon Tim" Walz

Megyn Kelly begins the show by discussing the media gaslighting Americans on a variety of topics, the fawning coverage of Kamala Harris that avoids discussing her actual policies, the truth about "Tampon Tim" Walz and the truth about his Minnesota policies, and more.

Military Vet on How VP Pick Tim Walz Abandoned Fellow National Guard Members When They Got Deployed

Megyn Kelly is joined by veteran Tom Behrends to discuss his personal military experience serving with VP pick Gov. Tim Walz in the National Guard, the controversy over Walz leaving the military rather than serving in Iraq, questions of leadership that it shows, whether Walz is a traitor and deserted the men in his unit, and more.

Multiple Chinese Military Ships Spotted Near Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, U.S. Coast Guard Says

Multiple Chinese Military Ships Spotted Near Alaska’s Aleutian Islands, U.S. Coast Guard Says

Chinese navy personnel pull a rope to dock Chinese amphibious warfare ship Jinggangshan during a welcome ceremony at the Sihanoukville port in Preah Sihanouk province on May 19, 2024. Two Chinese warships docked in Cambodia on May 19, 2024 as part of the biggest-ever joint military drills with the Southeast Asian nation. (Photo by AFP) (Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)
(Photo by STR/AFP via Getty Images)

OAN’s James Meyers
8:21 AM – Thursday, July 11, 2024

SEE: https://www.oann.com/newsroom/multiple-chinese-military-ships-spotted-near-alaskas-aleutian-islands-u-s-coast-guard-says/; republished below in full, unedited, for informational, educational, & research purposes:

Chinese Navy warships were spotted in waters off Alaska, U.S. Coast Guard officials said in a news release on Wednesday. 

Three of the warships were detected close to 124 miles north of the Amchitka Pass in the Aleutian Islands, and a fourth vessel was seen 84 miles north of the state’s Amutka Pass. The ships were last seen on both Saturday and Sunday of last weekend. 

According to the Coast Guard, all four ships were in international waters, but were inside the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, which reaches over 200 nautical miles from the U.S. shoreline. In these areas, the United States has exclusive rights for exploring and using marine resources. 

The Coast Guard said that both it and the U.S. Northern Command were “fully aware” of the Chinese ships’ progress. 

“The Kimball patrolled under Operation Frontier Sentinel, a Coast Guard operation designed to meet presence and presence when strategic competitors operate in and around U.S. waters,” the statement said.

“The Chinese naval presence operated in accordance with international rules and norms,” said Rear Adm. Megan Dean, Seventeenth Coast Guard District commander. “We met presence with presence to ensure there were no disruptions to U.S. interests in the maritime environment around Alaska.”

Meanwhile, the Chinese ships told the Coast Guard their mission was “freedom of navigation operations.” The Kimball monitored the ships until they went south into the North Pacific Ocean.

Additionally, similar incidents have occurred over the past few years. Between September 2021 and September 2022, Coast Guard cutters in the area encountered Chinese surface action groups.

In 2023, the U.S. Navy sent four destroyers to the Alaskan coast after 11 Chinese and Russian warships were spotted patrolling international waters within the Exclusive Economic Zone.

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After hot rebuke of Netanyahu, US admits to cutting military shipments to Israel by 50%

SEE: https://www.jihadwatch.org/2024/06/after-hot-rebuke-of-netanyahu-us-admits-to-cutting-military-shipments-to-israel-by-50; republished below in full, unedited, for informational, educational, & research purposes:

Less than a week ago, the Biden administration cancelled a high-level U.S.-Israel meeting on Iran, and scolded Netanyahu in protest over a video the Israeli prime minister released stating the truth — that the U.S. was withholding military aid.

The video provoked a temper tantrum from Biden reps. A U.S. official said that Netanyahu’s “decision makes it clear that there are consequences for pulling such stunts,” but who does this unnamed individual think he or she is? Israel is not inferior, nor the subject of the Biden administration.

Biden did withhold weapons from Israel, but expected Israel to be silent about it, and to reduce itself to a beggar’s gratitude, ostensibly so as not to stir up disapproval from the pro-Israel voting bloc.  

A few days later, “US officials confirmed that there has been a steep decline in weapons and ammunition provided by the US.” 

Iran, Hamas, Hizballah and all jihadists are enemies of America and the infidel West, as jihadists seek global conquest. 

Israel is on the frontline to secure its own existence, but it also battles by proxy for all free societies, which benefit from Israel being on the front lines. 

The Biden administration is unreliable, and is a stumbling block to Israel.

“US admits cutting shipments of military aid to Israel by 50%,” by Vered Weiss, World Israel News, June 23, 2024:

US officials confirmed that there has been a steep decline in weapons and ammunition provided by the US to Israel in recent months.

At the outset of the Gaza war, the US sent 240 shipments of military aid to Israel, but more recently, the number has dropped to 120, resulting in a 50% reduction.

Both US and Israeli officials confirmed that there has been a decrease in US arms shipments to Israel.

Addressing the situation at a cabinet meeting on Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, “There has been a dramatic decrease in the supply of munitions from the US.”‘

Although Netanyahu thanked the US for its support at the beginning of the war, “both in spirit and in material means,” he says he has had to urge the US to “speed up the shipments.”

The Israeli Prime Minister expressed his frustration, “We did it again and again. We did it at the highest levels, at all levels, we did it in closed rooms. ”

He added, “They gave us all sorts of explanations, but we didn’t get one thing – the basic situation hasn’t changed. Certain items trickled in, but the great mass of weapons remained behind.”…

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