Donald Trump Threatens Panama With AI Image of US Flag in Canal
Donald Trump tweeted threats against the nation of Panama over the weekend, suggesting in posts on Truth Social that he would take control of the Panama Canal if his demands were not met. The president-elect even installed an AI-generated image of the American flag in the middle of the Canal, making it the second time that Trump has threatened a non-aligned nation with AI images after making a similar threat against Canada.
“Welcome to the United States Canal!” Trump wrote on Sunday, in a message that appeared on multiple social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook.
The post included an image that, at first glance, is clearly not AI-generated. But the lower right corner includes the name Grok, an AI productivity tool developed by X that doubles as a chatbot and allows people to create images through text messages. Grok’s watermark was removed from platforms such as Instagram and Facebook.
It’s not clear where Trump or his social media team got the photo, but the president-elect is known for spreading inflammatory images on Twitter, especially when they are hateful and racist. Trump posted AI photos of cats and dogs in September while helping to spread the lie that Haitian immigrants in Ohio were eating pets.
Trump first suggested that he would try to take ownership of the Panama Canal a day earlier in a message that aired between two Public Truth documents on Saturday.
“The Panama Canal is considered a VITAL national asset of the United States, due to its vital role in the American Economy and National Security,” Trump wrote. “A secure Panama Canal is essential to US Commerce, and the Navy’s rapid shipping, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and greatly reduces shipping times at US ports.”
The post then went on to lay out the reasons why the US should have control over the Panama Canal, as it did when it was created in the early 20th century. France started the project in the 1880s, but stopped until the US took over in 1904 and finished building the canal ten years later. President Jimmy Carter signed an agreement in the 1970s to control the Canal back to Panama but Trump would like to reverse that.
“The fees charged to Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the incredible generosity the US has given Panama,” Trump wrote. “This ‘bankruptcy’ of our country will stop soon.”
Trump then went on to say that unless a deal is made, the US will “demand” control of the Canal, which is a threat of war with its foreign ally.
“The United States has an interest in the safe, efficient, and reliable operation of the Panama Canal, and that has always been understood. We would not and WILL NOT let it fall into the wrong hands!” Trump wrote.
“It was not given for the benefit of others, but just as a sign of cooperation between us and Panama. If the principles, both moral and legal, of this great act of philanthropy are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, and without question. To the officials of Panama, please be guided in the right direction!” Trump continued.
The president of Panama apparently took Trump’s threats seriously, defending the integrity of his country in a video posted to X.
“Every square meter of the Panama Canal and the areas around it are part of Panama, and will continue to be,” President José Raúl Mulino said Sunday, according to the English version of Bloomberg.
🇵🇦 Message from President José Raúl Mulino 🇵🇦 pic.twitter.com/DMXU8qAuNT
— José Raúl Mulino (@JoseRaulMulino) December 22, 2024
Trump responded to Mulino with unrepentant nonsense at an event called AmericaFest, organized by the far-right political organization Turning Point USA.
“Has anyone heard of the Panama Canal?” Trump said. “Because we’re being kicked out of the Panama Canal like we’re being kicked out everywhere.”
Trump went by the words he had already said on social media during his live speech.
“If the principles, moral and legal, of this great act of generosity are not followed, then we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us in full, immediately and without hesitation,” Trump said, according to the CBC.
After the speech, Trump wrote on Truth Social “we’ll see about that” in response to President Mulino’s message, making it clear that he will argue as much as possible.
It’s not even the first time Trump has used AI-generated images to threaten a foreign country with an attack. The billionaire dipshit previously posted a photo of his AI standing on a mountain with an American flag and Europe’s Matterhorn in the distance. It seems that the image was supposed to represent Trump winning Canada, although the image was clearly a representation of nature in Europe.
Trump also included a threat against Greenland on Sunday in the announcement that he made Ken Howery ambassador to Denmark.
“For the purpose of National Security and Liberty around the World, the United States of America feels that ownership and control of Greenland is an absolute necessity,” Trump wrote. “Ken will do an excellent job representing the interests of the United States.”
Some commentators insist that Trump’s threats against foreign countries are mere trolling or a “joke,” but they seem to be in complete denial of what the country has faced in the coming months and years. We will find out soon if Trump tries to make a move against the allied countries. A whole new world. And no one knows what will happen for sure.