Trump demands U.S. ships travel free through Panama and Suez canals, citing America's role in building and protecting the world's key shipping routes.

Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social last weekend that American ships should be allowed to travel through the Panama and Suez Canals free of charge. Before returning to the White House, the billionaire had vowed that the United States would regain control of Greenland and the Panama Canal for "security purposes.

Trump has said repeatedly that he wants to "take back" the Panama canal. Before taking office in January, he said that he would not rule out using economic or military force to regain control over the canal.