Drunk on air? Former intelligence officer pulled off live TV



During Fox News' coverage of the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary parade, contributor and former Defense Intelligence Officer Rebekah Koffler appeared on air with slurred speech and exaggerated gestures, leading viewers to speculate she was intoxicated.

In a now deleted post on X, Koffler wrote prior to the interview, “Well @POTUS is apparently encroaching on my airtime! My hit is moved to 8:20-8:30 pm depending on how long #Trump takes. I’m honored. Refilling my #champagne glass while waiting for my hit!”

Accompanying the sentiment was a photo of a bottle of champagne.

When she was asked on air what her thoughts were on the “incredible symbolism” and “messaging” of the event, her response was almost unintelligible.


“I’m so excited, Emily and Lucas Tomlinson,” Koffler said to Fox News anchors Emily Compagno and Lawrence Jones. “Everybody, like, this is incredible! Finally, the United States is back! I want to really thank all of our Army, Navy, and Air Force officers who’ve been sacrificing their lives, literally. Their families have been contributing to the mission.”

“With our new commander in chief, Donald J. Trump, they are prioritizing America first. And I want to thank these officers for all of their sacrifices and all of the hardships that their families have endured,” she continued, adding, “Lawrence Jones, you’re doing ... you’re rocking, man!”

Her segment then ended when the Fox and Friends hosts cut her off and quickly went to a commercial break.

Koffler claimed she was simply having an audio issue, but BlazeTV host Pat Gray isn’t buying it.

“I say she was drunk,” Gray says on “Pat Gray Unleashed.”

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Leftists rage over Trump's latest patriotic installment at the White House



President Donald Trump installed two big, beautiful flagpoles on the White House grounds on Wednesday, and leftists are losing their minds.

Trump announced the installation on Tuesday, saying the flagpoles were "always missing from this magnificent place." After the 100-foot flagpoles were put in place, the left-wing media ripped the administration for the changes to the White House grounds.

The flags weren't the only things that sparked outrage from the left.

Our great American Flag is now flying high on the South Lawn of the White House. GOD BLESS AMERICA! 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/AJ5PAB5ygl
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 18, 2025

The Daily Beast reported on the new flagpoles, calling them one of the latest "monstrous changes" Trump has made to the White House. The "monstrous changes" in question also include renovations to the Rose Garden to make it easier for women to walk on with high heels, according to Trump.

The publication also characterized the patriotic flagpoles, which will fly the American flag and the POW/MIA flag, as "tacky."

The flags weren't the only things that sparked outrage from the left. Trump spoke to reporters on the South Lawn during the installation, when he was asked about the deportation efforts being rolled out by the administration. In response, Trump turned to the workers and jokingly asked if any of them were illegal immigrants.

"We've got to get the bad people out of here first, and we're doing that," Trump said. "We're taking them out by the thousands. Murderers, drug dealers, people that are mentally insane from insane asylums."

"Any illegal immigrants in there?" Trump joked, turning to the workers at the press conference. "No? If they were, they'll find out."

Mediaite promptly reported on the incident, calling it a "stunning moment" and accused the president of "laughing as he threatened to destroy someone's 'whole life.'" The reason the president was laughing, of course, was because he was making a joke.

RELATED: Democrats vote overwhelmingly to allow illegal aliens to continue voting in key district

.@POTUS to the media as workers lift the new White House American Flagpole:

"Let's see how REAL people work. These are real people — you're not real people, your job is too easy." 🤣 pic.twitter.com/fklpDGpLC0
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) June 18, 2025

Mediaite also accused Trump of taking a break from "threatening Iran" to oversee the installation of the flagpoles, suggesting the president is putting foreign policy on the back burner. The article failed to note that Trump took several questions related to the conflict during the press conference.

Despite this, Trump stuck to his big, beautiful flagpoles, encouraging future administrations to keep them up on the White House grounds as a "magnificent" display of patriotism.

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DOJ attorney resigns — but vows to keep fighting in Texas in major announcement on Glenn Beck show



Aaron Reitz, the former assistant attorney general for the Department of Justice's Office of Legal Policy, made a major announcement during an interview on "The Glenn Beck Program" Thursday morning after declaring his immediate resignation from his DOJ position the day before.

He shared his resignation letters addressed to President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi in a post on social media on Wednesday afternoon.

'Duty now calls me to continue that fight on a new front.'

"My fight for Law, Order, Justice, and the Constitution continues in Texas. Thank you, @POTUS and @AGPamBondi for your leadership and for the privilege of serving our great nation under you," he wrote.

In his resignation letters, Reitz hinted at waging a bold, new fight in Texas but stopped short of revealing the details of his next move.

Reitz told Trump that the assistant attorney general role was "one of the finest honors of my life."

RELATED: Pam Bondi opens federal investigation into EPIC Muslim community proposal in Texas, Cornyn says

Aaron Reitz. Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

"Under the leadership of Attorney General Bondi, I am proud to say we have made historic strides in that mission," he told the president.

"Duty now calls me to continue that fight on a new front," Reitz continued. "After much prayer and careful reflection, I have decided to resign from my position at the Justice Department, effective today, and to return home to Texas. In Texas, I will serve you, your Administration, and our America First movement in an even greater capacity."

RELATED: Texas drops hammer on alleged vote-harvesting judge, officials after multi-year election crime probe

Aaron Reitz. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images

During a Thursday morning interview with Blaze Media co-founder Glenn Beck, Reitz revealed his next step, declaring his run for Texas attorney general.

"I'm proud to share this news with Texans on your show for the first time," Reitz told Beck. "With Attorney General [Ken] Paxton now throwing his hat in the ring for the United States Senate, it's giving Texans a once-in-a-decade opportunity to put what President Trump called a true MAGA attorney and a warrior for the Constitution to succeed Paxton and keep his foot on the gas, to press in hard, on all of the things that Texans really care about."

Reitz vowed to partner with President Donald Trump to "really hold the line" by investigating and litigating "blue state agitators," including George Soros-funded district attorneys, mayors, and nonprofits.

Before his position at the DOJ, Reitz was chief of staff to Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and deputy attorney general for legal strategy to Texas AG Paxton.

While under Paxton, Reitz was described as Texas' "offensive coordinator," leading dozens of lawsuits against the Biden administration on matters concerning immigration, consumer protection, and election integrity.

— (@)

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Trump personally took action to bar foreign students' entry to Harvard over security threats. Enter: Obama judge.



The Trump administration has repeatedly taken actions to ensure that Harvard University doesn't remain a haven for foreign radicals, and a meddlesome Obama judge has repeatedly thrown up roadblocks.

The Department of Homeland Security, dissatisfied with Harvard's response to violent and illegal activities by foreign students, announced last month that it would revoke the university's certification for the Student and Exchange Visitor Program that allowed the school to enroll international students.

As this would greatly impact the student body — roughly 7,000 or 27% of which are student foreigners — but, more importantly, the school's bottom line, Harvard sued the administration, claiming that the decision violated the First Amendment, the Due Process Clause, and the Administrative Procedure Act.

U.S. District Judge Allison Burroughs, an Obama appointee, granted a temporary restraining order on May 23.

'Harvard University is no longer a trustworthy steward of international student and exchange visitor programs.'

Aware that there is more than one way to skin a cat, President Donald Trump — whose administration revoked roughly 4,000 student visas in his first 100 days — issued an executive order on Wednesday temporarily suspending the entry into the U.S. of foreign Harvard University students on nonimmigrant F, M, or J visas. The apparent aim of the order was to circumvent the Obama judge's temporary restraining order.

RELATED: Higher ed's shield shatters under Trump's new directive

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

The president framed the action as an effort to enhance national security, suggesting that Harvard has demonstrated:

  • noncompliance with federal law;
  • an inability to police its foreign students;
  • an apparent unwillingness to disclose information about foreign students' known illegal activity; and
  • "extensive entanglements" with foreign powers, communist China in particular.

'Admission to the United States to study at an "elite" American university is a privilege, not a right.'

The White House noted further that Harvard "has failed to adequately address violent anti-Semitic incidents on campus, with many of these agitators found to be foreign students."

Trump concluded that "Harvard University is no longer a trustworthy steward of international student and exchange visitor programs." He suggested further that the consequences of Harvard's many failings "jeopardize the integrity of the entire United States student and exchange visitor visa system, compromise national security, and embolden other institutions to similarly disregard the rule of law."

Attorney General Pam Bondi weighed in, writing, "Admission to the United States to study at an 'elite' American university is a privilege, not a right. This Department of Justice will vigorously defend the President's proclamation suspending the entry of new foreign students at Harvard University based on national security concerns.

The school nevertheless amended its lawsuit — now accusing Trump of pursuing "a government vendetta against Harvard" — and asked for swift action from the Obama judge.

Harvard University President Alan Garber then reassured foreigners that Harvard, which has gobbled up billions of American taxpayer dollars, is a "truly global university community."

RELATED: Harvard dishonesty expert stripped of tenure and fired over alleged data falsification, rampant plagiarism

Photo by Erica Denhoff/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Judge Burroughs once again intervened, blocking the president's order and adding to the historic number of nationwide injunctions and temporary restraining orders federal judges have issued since Trump retook office.

Burroughs said in her two-page ruling that a continuation of her May 23 restraining order and a new restraining order against Trump's executive order were "warranted," as the Massachusetts-based school would otherwise face "immediate and irreparable injury."

Following the ruling, Attorney General Pam Bondi's chief of staff, Chad Mizelle, wrote, "Harvard is refusing to provide the federal government with information about crimes and misconduct committed by its foreign students."

"This is a threat to national security and we will vigorously defend @POTUS's proclamation," added Mizelle.

Blaze News reached out to the White House and to the DHS for comment but did not immediately receive responses.

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DHS, FBI investigating deleted seashell post from former FBI Director James Comey appearing to threaten Trump



The current head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation said they were opening an investigation into the apparent threat made against President Donald Trump by James Comey, a former director of the FBI.

Social media erupted with condemnation on Thursday when Comey posted the image of a shell formation he claimed to have found on the beach. People quickly associated the message "8647" as advocating for the removal or death of the president.

'It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down.'

Comey deleted the post and issued an explanation.

"I posted earlier a picture of some shells I saw today on a beach walk, which I assumed were a political message," he wrote. "I didn't realize some folks associate those numbers with violence. It never occurred to me but I oppose violence of any kind so I took the post down."

Department of Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem said she would look into the message along with the U.S. Secret Service.

"Disgraced former FBI Director James Comey just called for the assassination of @POTUS Trump. DHS and Secret Service is investigating this threat and will respond appropriately," she wrote.

RELATED: FBI Director Comey asked Justice Department to publicly deny Trump's wiretapping claim

Trump and Comey in friendlier times. Photo by Andrew Harrer-Pool/Getty Images

FBI Director Kash Patel said he was cooperating with the Secret Service on the matter.

"We are aware of the recent tweet by former FBI Director James Comey, directed at President Trump," wrote Patel. "We are in communication with the Secret Service and Director Curran. Primary jurisdiction is with SS on these matters and we, the FBI, will provide all necessary support."

The president's son responded to the post from his own account.

"Just James Comey causally calling for my dad to be murdered. This is who the Dem-Media worships. Demented!!!!" wrote Donald Trump Jr.

Comey was replaced by Christopher Wray in the first Trump administration, and Wray resigned from the post just ahead of the beginning of Trump's second term. The president nominated Patel at the beginning of his second term.

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VIDEO: NASA astronauts stranded in space by the Biden admin splash down in SpaceX capsule



Two astronauts stranded at the International Space Station were successfully rescued by SpaceX on Tuesday afternoon.

Astronauts Suni Williams and Butch Wilmore were originally meant to be at the space station for a week-long mission but that turned into a nine-month ordeal after problems were detected with the return capsule.

'This rescue embodies America at its best—we can still achieve great things.'

President Donald Trump tasked Elon Musk's aerospace company with bringing back the pair, who rode in the SpaceX Dragon capsule alongside NASA astronaut Nick Hague and Russian cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.

Video showed the space capsule splashing down into the newly renamed Gulf of America off the coast of Tallahassee, Florida.

NASA posted video of the four astronauts after they arrived back to Earth.

"Recovery teams will now help the crew out of Dragon, a standard process for all crew members after returning from long-duration missions," the post read.

Musk had claimed in February that he had offered to Biden and his administration to bring back the astronauts, but they refused the proposal. Two former NASA officials denied the allegation.

"President Trump pledged to rescue the astronauts stranded in space for nine months. Today, they safely splashed down in the Gulf of America," read a message from the White House.

"This is what the Golden Age of Space Transportation looks like!" said Transportation Sec. Sean Duffy. "They were forgotten for nine months in space, but thanks to @POTUS' leadership no American gets left behind."

"Welcome home, astronauts Wilmore, Williams, and Crew-9," said Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. "This rescue embodies America at its best—we can still achieve great things. I'm proud of the role Florida plays in the space industry and that we were the launching and landing point for this impressive mission."

Some noted on social media that dolphins could be seen jumping near the capsule in the gulf.

Here's video of the splash down:

The astronauts who were stranded in space by the Biden administration have been brought back by Trump and Elon

🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/2wUHmrv5d1
— TheBlaze (@theblaze) March 18, 2025

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Anna Paulina Luna forcefully rejects ‘s**t hit piece’ implying ‘something distasteful’ between her and Trump



Republican Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida denied the hints in a Daily Beast report that President Donald Trump had acted inappropriately toward her on his personal jet.

The Daily Beast claimed Trump reportedly offered "a MAGA newcomer his bed," as long as she kept it a secret from his wife, in 2023. Luna was pregnant at the time and had been experiencing some discomfort.

'If people in POTUS orbit are talking to this author, they need to be cut off immediately. This is gross.'

The report implied that Trump might have been flirting with the congresswoman, who is 35 years old. The allegations come from an upcoming book that also claims first lady Melania Trump dislikes the president intensely.

“If you need a bed to lay down in, there’s one here on the plane. If you feel sick and you need to lay there, you can lay on it,” Trump reportedly said to Luna. "Just don’t tell Melania. She doesn’t like other women on my bed."

Luna posted on social media that the news outlet did not reach out to her for comment, and she vehemently denied the suggestion while offering more details about her version of the story.

"I seldom respond to nasty headlines because I don’t like giving trash credibility, however, being that there is allegedly a book coming out with me named and attacking @POTUS , his marriage, our first lady, and frankly implying something distasteful about me, I am responding," she wrote.

She went on to say she had been suffering from undiagnosed pre-eclampsia but that Trump was being a gentleman when he offered the back room to her.

"He did this in a respectful way and in front of my husband, of which we thanked him. He also assured me that they had a medical team on board in case anything happened and they were aware of how pregnant I was," she added.

She called the author of the book "disgusting" for not recognizing Trump's act of compassion to her.

"The author of this book never reached out to me for comment," Luna concluded. "Which means that this book is likely going to be a s**t hit piece. If people in POTUS orbit are talking to this author, they need to be cut off immediately. This is gross."

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'This is war': Trump signals he's playing hardball with invocation of Alien Enemies Act, disappointment of Obama judge



The Trump administration made clear with two decisions over the weekend that it is now playing hardball when it comes to throwing terroristic illegal aliens out of the country and dealing with apparent judicial overreach.

Wartime measure

On his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing his secretary of state to ready foreign terrorist organization designations for Tren de Aragua and Mara Salvatrucha, better known as MS-13, gangsters as well as other international organizations that "threaten the safety of the American people, the security of the United States, and the stability of the international order in the Western Hemisphere."

Trump also directed his attorney general and the secretary of homeland security to:

take all appropriate action, in consultation with the Secretary of State, to make operation preparations regarding the implementation of any decision I make to invoke the Alien Enemies Act ... in relation to the existence of any qualifying invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States by a qualifying actor, and to prepare such facilities as necessary to expedite the removal of those who may be designated under this order.

Last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio named nine gangs and cartel organizations, including TDA and MS-13, to be designated as terror groups.

On Saturday, the president similarly went the distance, invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

'TdA is perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States.'

In the event of a declared war with a foreign nation or "any invasion or predatory incursion" perpetrated or attempted against the U.S., the president is enabled under this law to order the apprehension, restraint, detention, and removal of "all natives, citizens, denizens, or subjects of the hostile nature or government, being males of the age of fourteen years and upwards, who shall be within the United States, and not actually naturalized."

The Congressional Research Service noted that this particular law was enacted as part of a broader set of controversial national security measures known as the Alien and Sedition Acts.

Unlike the Alien Act and the Sedition Act, which did not ultimately survive, the Alien Enemies Act found no objection from either James Madison or Thomas Jefferson. The Supreme Court held that the absence of objection to the law by the generation that drafted the Constitution evidenced its constitutionality.

The first time the law was invoked was during the War of 1812. It was last used during World War II.

Citing his duty to protect the American people and his constitutional authority to do so, Trump declared that "TdA is perpetrating, attempting, and threatening an invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States. TdA is undertaking hostile actions and conducting irregular warfare against the territory of the United States both directly and at the direction, clandestine or otherwise, of the Maduro regime in Venezuela."

"I proclaim that all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are members of TdA, are within the United States, and are not actually naturalized or lawful permanent residents of the United States are liable to be apprehended, restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies," added Trump.

When asked aboard Air Force One on Sunday evening whether he feels he is using the law appropriately, given that it was previously used only during times of war, Trump said, "Well, this is a time of war."

"Biden allowed millions of people, many of them criminals, many of them at the highest level. They emptied jails out — other nations emptied their jails into the United States. It's an invasion, and these are criminals," said Trump. "They invaded our country. In that sense, this is war."

Slow on the draw, Obama judge

Hours after Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act, an Obama judge responding to a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Democracy Forward ordered a pause to deportations under the 227-year-old law. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg was, however, not fast enough.

Two planes loaded with apparent Tren de Aragua terrorists were apparently already airborne, one plane taking deportees to El Salvador and the other taking deportees to Honduras.

Rubio indicated that the Trump administration "sent 2 dangerous top MS-13 leaders plus 21 of its most wanted back to face justice in El Salvador. Also, as promised by @POTUS, we sent over 250 alien enemy members of Tren de Aragua which El Salvador has agreed to hold in their very good jails at a fair price that will also save our taxpayer dollars."

Upon learning that they had already left the nation, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg impotently ordered that the planes be sent back to the U.S., reported ABC News.

'If the Democrats want to argue in favor of turning a plane full of rapists, murderers, and gangsters back to the United States, that's a fight we are more than happy to take.'

"You shall inform your clients of this immediately: Any plane containing these folks that is going to take off or is in the air needs to be returned to the United States," Boasberg said during a hearing on Saturday. "However that's accomplished, turning around the plane, or not embarking anyone on the plane. … This is something that you need to make sure is complied with immediately."

El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele tweeted on Sunday morning, "Oopsie... Too late."

Bukele later shared footage to X Sunday showing alleged terrorists being hauled off airplanes, indicating that they were "immediately transferred to CECOT, the Terrorism Confinement Center."

— (@)

Critics clutched pearls over the Trump administration's deportation of alleged terrorists, claiming the president had flouted the Obama judge's orders.

Mark Zaid, a liberal attorney whose security clearance Trump revoked last month, wrote, "Court order defied. First of many as I've been warning and start of true constitutional crisis. Ultimately will lead to Trump impeachment proceedings."

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that the "administration did not 'refuse to comply' with a court order. The order, which had no lawful basis, was issued after terrorist TdA aliens had already been removed from U.S. territory."

"Moreover, as the Supreme Court has repeatedly made clear — federal courts generally have no jurisdiction over the President's conduct of foreign affairs, his authorities under the Alien Enemies Act, and his core Article II powers to remove foreign alien terrorists from U.S. soil and repel a declared invasion," continued Leavitt. "A single judge in a single city cannot direct the movements of an aircraft carrying foreign alien terrorists who were expelled from U.S. soil."

Leavitt told Axios, which originally reported that the White House "defied a judge's order," that "if the Democrats want to argue in favor of turning a plane full of rapists, murderers, and gangsters back to the United States, that's a fight we are more than happy to take."

In a Sunday court filing, government attorneys indicated that gang members subject to removal under the Alien Enemies Act were ejected from the country before Boasberg issued his order and further noted that "going forward, and in the absence of appellate relief, Federal Defendants will continue to protect the United States using authorities other than the Proclamation."

Even though the initial narrative pushed by Axios and seized upon by Trump critics turned out to be wrong, the whining continued.

Steve Vladeck, a professor at Georgetown University Law Center, told the Associated Press that while Boasberg's verbal directive to turn around the planes was not part of his formal order, the Trump administration had still violated the "spirit" of the order, incentivizing "future courts to be hyper specific in their orders and not give the government any wiggle room."

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Sister of slain Army soldier decides to run for Rep. Al Green's seat after seeing him interrupt Trump's congressional address



Democrat Rep. Al Green of Texas is going to face a stout challenge to maintaining his congressional seat from the sister of slain Army soldier Vanessa Guillen.

Mayra Guillen says she made the decision to run after watching Green interrupt President Donald Trump during his address to a joint session of Congress last week.

'I believe it’s time for me to get into the fight like I did for my sister. ... Al Green I’m coming for your seat.'

Green yelled at Trump at the start of his address and continued shouting until Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana ordered that he be removed from the House chamber.

Guillen wrote on social media that the moment spurred her to action.

"After watching @RepAlGreen disrespect not only @POTUS last night, but our district, state and country, I believe it’s time for me to get into the fight like I did for my sister Vanessa Guillen!" she wrote. "It’s time to end the propaganda displayed by these politicians, and time to help support @POTUS and his amazing Admiration to Make America Great Again! Al Green I’m coming for your seat."

She posted a photo of herself and the president in the Oval Office along with her announcement.

Guillen has never held public office before but became politically active after the tragic murder of her sister.

Vanessa Guillen went missing from Fort Hood military base in 2020, and her body was found two months later in a shallow grave. Another soldier was suspected of murdering her, but he committed suicide as investigators closed in on him. Her family has since revealed that Guillen had been sexually assaulted but was afraid of reporting the abuse out of fear of retaliation.

Congress passed new laws about sexual harassment reporting in the military because of Mayra Guillen's efforts.

Green has represented the 9th Congressional District in Texas for two decades. He was later censured for his actions during Trump's address.

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Panama to ditch communist China's Belt and Road Initiative after Rubio's visit



Secretary of State Marco Rubio laid down the law in Panama over the weekend, making expressly clear to President José Mulino that the Trump administration will not tolerate the influence of the Chinese communist regime over the Panama Canal as it now stands.

It appears the Panamanian leader heeded the American's warning.

Within hours of their meeting, Mulino announced that Panama will not be renewing its memorandum of understanding with China concerning its Belt and Road Initiative.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce indicated in a statement Sunday that Rubio impressed upon Mulino and Panama's foreign minister, Javier Martínez-Acha, "that President Trump has made a preliminary determination that the current position of influence and control of the Chinese Communist Party over the Panama Canal area is a threat to the canal and represents a violation of the Treaty Concerning the Permanent Neutrality and Operation of the Panama Canal."

'Absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights.'

According to the Panama Canal Treaty and Neutrality Treaty signed in 1977 by former President Jimmy Carter and Panama's then-chief of government, Omar Torrijos, the canal "shall be permanently neutral" and in time of both peace and war "shall remain secure and open to peaceful transit by the vessels of all nations on terms of entire equality."

Rubio reportedly told the Panamanian leaders that the current level of Chinese influence over the canal was "unacceptable and that absent immediate changes, it would require the United States to take measures necessary to protect its rights under the Treaty."

Evidently keen to avoid consequences — which Rubio apparently did not spell out in detail — Mulino announced that he will not only let Panama's Belt and Road Initiative partnership expire but will look into the possibility of terminating it early, as it was not set to be renewed for at least another year.

Mulino also expressed a willingness to review a number of Chinese businesses in Panama, including the 25-year concession to the Chinese company that operates ports at both ends of the canal, reported Reuters.

Mulino's announcement "that Panama will allow its participation in the CCP's Belt and Road Initiative to expire is a great step forward for U.S.-Panama relations, a free Panama Canal, and another example of @POTUS leadership to protect our national security and deliver prosperity for the American people," Rubio stated Monday.

Through its BRI, the Chinese Communist Party helps poorer nations build ports, rail lines, and telecommunications networks, as well as secure financing. Since this assistance is usually unaffordable by design, the BRI effectively transforms countries into vassal states.

The State Department noted during the first Trump administration that the Belt and Road Initiative "preys on other countries via unsustainable and corrupt lending while ignoring global labor and environmental standards." The department stated further that the Chinese military utilizes BRI to establish a presence in partner nations and to "challenge the United States globally."

Panama was the first country in Latin America to partner with China on the BRI, signing a memorandum of understanding to that effect in 2017.

Since 2017, China's influence in Panama has grown considerably, raising concerns stateside that America's ability to transit the canal it built in the early 20th century for a price tag of $375 million and thousands of lives could soon be strategically hindered.

'We gave the Panama Canal to Panama. We didn't give it to China.'

A Congressional Research Service report updated on Dec. 17, 2024, noted that some U.S. military leaders are concerned that Beijing-linked companies along the canal "may present a security vulnerability for the United States." China presently controls ports at both ends of the canal through Hutchinson Ports PPC, a Hong Kong-based company closely linked to the regime in Beijing.

Trump said on Truth Social in December that the canal and its independence from communist Chinese interference were "crucial for U.S. commerce, and rapid deployment of the Navy, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, and drastically cuts shipping times to U.S. ports."

Weeks ahead of taking office, Trump stated at a press conference that the "Panama Canal is vital to our country. It's being operated by China. China. And we gave the Panama Canal to Panama. We didn't give it to China, and they've abused it. They've abused that gift. It should have never been made, by the way. Giving the Panama Canal is why Jimmy Carter lost the election, in my opinion."

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