Trump says US ships should have free use of Panama and Suez canals. What about Margo Lardo?

[Wonder Why]

According to the Guardian, "Trump says US ships should have free use of Panama and Suez canals".

Donald Trump has demanded free transit for American commercial and military ships through the Panama and Suez canals, tasking his secretary of state with making progress “immediately”.

Trump has for months been calling for the United States to take control of the Panama canal but his social media post also shifted focus on to the vital Suez route. “American ships, both military and commercial, should be allowed to travel, free of charge, through the Panama and Suez canals!” Trump posted on Saturday.

He claimed both routes would “not exist” without the US and said he had asked his secretary of state, Marco Rubio, to “immediately take care of” the situation.

If that's the case, shouldn't all American have free use of his Margo-Lardo?

I just put in for free accommodations at the presidential suite. I have my gas mask and a camera to take a selfie on the golden toilet while reading classified docs.

[Ocelot II]

1. So because a territory once belonged to or was controlled by the US,

Trump's logic is that we should be able to have free use of it forever? Wouldn't that same logic mean that Mexico gets to help itself to most of the Southwest plus Texas?

[underpants]

5. As I understand it, Panama can show no favoritism

I read that when this nonsense started. In the agreement to give the canal to Panama it states that they charge the same standard rates to everyone. They can’t use it as leverage on or for anyone.

[Ocelot II]

6. Yep. But Trump is *special* and he gets what he wants.

[question everything]

2. This country had nothing to do with building the Suez canal

[Ocelot II]

8. It was first built by the French and operated for a while by a French/English company,

and it is now owned and operated by Egypt. The UN sent troops in the '50s to keep the canal open after the Suez crisis, but the US had no direct involvement in the canal until the '70s after the Yom Kippur War, when US ships and helicopters were sent to clear mines. The canal is now under the exclusive control of Egypt. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez_Canal

I don't know why Trump thinks the US is entitled to free use of it because we cleared out some mines 40 years ago. Maybe just because he's Trump.

[question everything]

9. We now are fighting the Houtis who attack traffic in the red sea traveling between the Suez Canal

and the Indian Ocean.

This does not mean that we should have a free passage in the Canal. We are there as part of the overall Middle East strategy that includes Iran and Saudi Arabia.

[Ocelot II]

10. Exactly. Using the canal for free wouldn't make a damn bit of difference

with respect to fighting the Houthis' piracy in the Red Sea. And doesn't he call them "Hooties" because he doesn't know WTF he's talking about?

[NCDem47]

3. He just can't stand it that things aren't "his" or that he can't bend leaders and nations to his will.

Drives him f'n nuts. Especially if he thinks they are below him.

[Johonny]

4. There wont be any cargo ships with US trade

In a few months anyways.

[yorkster]

7. World's biggest jackass strikes again.