More than 100 years after the construction of the engineering marvel that linked the Atlantic and Pacific oceans — and 25 years after the canal was returned to Panama by the US — the Panama Canal faces renewed intimidation from US President Donald Trump.

Newly sworn-in President Donald Trump invoked ‘Manifest Destiny’ in his inaugural address and said of the Panama Canal, “we're taking it back.”

In a statement posted to X, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino said the Panama Canal would remain under his country’s ownership. Mulino said he rejected Trump’s words “in their entirety” and reiterated that the canal would continue to be overseen by the Pamanian government.