Trump Says US Did ‘Good Job’ Building Panama Canal, More Than A Century Ago

President Donald Trump meets with Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, June 19, 2017, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
Evan Vucci/AP

As President Donald Trump reminisced Monday on the United States’ role in building the Panama Canal, Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela reminded him that more than a century has passed since.

“The Panama Canal is doing quite well,” Trump said, sitting with Varela for a photo opportunity. “I think we did a good job building it, right?”

“Yeah. A hundred years ago,” Varela said.

“We did a very good job,” Trump continued, speaking over Varela. “But things are going well in Panama.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Esme Cribb is a newswriter for TPM in New York City. She can be found on Twitter @emquiry and reached by email at esme@talkingpointsmemo.com.
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