Trump's push to take back the Panama Canal

Gone quiet · last story Apr 3, 2026

What this arc covers

Donald Trump's 2025 campaign over the Panama Canal: his claims of Chinese meddling and Panama's denials, Marco Rubio's warning of US action, the dispute over free passage for US ships, Pete Hegseth's vow to 'take back' the canal and China's response, and Trump's demand for free passage through the Panama and Suez canals.

Panama

Earliest story we hold Jan 7, 2025 · 10 stories · 46 independent sources (counted once each) · 451 days

Part ofPanamaPeople's Republic of ChinaDonald TrumpMarco RubioPete HegsethUnited States Department of StateHong KongBeijing

Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning

Apr 32026Rubio accuses China of 'bullying' for holding up Panama-flagged ships after canal clash5 articles · 5 independent sources
0 left, 3 center, 0 right
Jan 302026Hong Kong company’s concession to operate Panama Canal ports is ruled unconstitutional12 articles · 11 independent sources
2 left, 1 center, 2 right
Apr 26– 272025Trump calls for free passage of US ships through Panama, Suez canals: 'Would not exist without the USA'8 articles · 8 independent sources
1 left, 2 center, 3 right

Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below

  1. Jan 15 – 22, 2025Panama, familiar with US intervention, bristles at Trump's comments on canal23 articles · 19 independent sources
    1. Jan 15, 2025Only center coverage:Trump, China, and the Truth about the Panama Canal
    2. Jan 17, 2025Trump’s Panama Canal threats leave country’s officials scrambling for answers
    3. Jan 22, 2025Panama and China push back against Trump’s canal threats
  2. Jan 28 – Feb 3, 2025Rubio warns of U.S. action if Panama does not curb Chinese influence around the canal32 articles · 26 independent sources
  3. Feb 3 – 6, 2025Panama Denies State Department’s Claim US Ships Can Pass Through Canal For Free20 articles · 14 independent sources
  4. Apr 8 – 9, 2025Hegseth spurs fiery response from Beijing over Panama Canal ‘threat’ comments12 articles · 10 independent sources
  5. Jan 30, 2026Hong Kong company’s concession to operate Panama Canal ports is ruled unconstitutional12 articles · 11 independent sources

Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side

Jan 2025Apr 2025Jul 2025Sep 2025Dec 2025Mar 2026

LeftCenterRight

Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.

Every week as a table
Week ofLeftCenterRightArticles
Jan 6, 20251249
Jan 13, 20251102
Jan 20, 202515319
Jan 27, 202524211
Feb 3, 2025614337
Mar 3, 20252204
Apr 7, 202524419
Apr 21, 20251237
Jan 26, 20262128
Mar 30, 20260305

Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.

26% left · 54% center · 20% right of 46 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 10 stories.

Every storyoldest first

  1. January 2025

    Jan 7– 11Panama Canal administrator pushes back against Trump's assertions of Chinese meddling - The Daily Reporter10 articles · 10 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 4 right
  2. Jan 15– 22Panama, familiar with US intervention, bristles at Trump's comments on canal23 articles · 19 independent sources
    1 left, 6 center, 3 right
  3. Jan 28– Feb 3Rubio warns of U.S. action if Panama does not curb Chinese influence around the canal32 articles · 26 independent sources
    6 left, 13 center, 3 right

  4. February 2025

    Feb 3– 6Panama Denies State Department’s Claim US Ships Can Pass Through Canal For Free20 articles · 14 independent sources
    2 left, 8 center, 3 right

  5. March 2025

    Mar 5Panama president says ‘Trump is lying’ about reclaiming canal5 articles · 5 independent sources
    2 left, 2 center, 0 right

  6. April 2025

    Apr 8– 9U.S. Defense Secretary Vows to “Take Back” Panama Canal8 articles · 6 independent sources
    1 left, 1 center, 4 right
  7. Apr 8– 9Hegseth spurs fiery response from Beijing over Panama Canal ‘threat’ comments12 articles · 10 independent sources
    1 left, 4 center, 1 right
  8. Apr 26– 27Trump calls for free passage of US ships through Panama, Suez canals: 'Would not exist without the USA'8 articles · 8 independent sources
    1 left, 2 center, 3 right

  9. January 2026

    Jan 30Hong Kong company’s concession to operate Panama Canal ports is ruled unconstitutional12 articles · 11 independent sources
    2 left, 1 center, 2 right

  10. April 2026

    Apr 3Rubio accuses China of 'bullying' for holding up Panama-flagged ships after canal clash5 articles · 5 independent sources
    0 left, 3 center, 0 right