By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-were-taking-back-the-panama-canal-trump-says Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: ‘We’re taking’ back the Panama Canal, Trump says Politics Mar 4, 2025 11:15 PM EDT President Donald Trump reiterated his promise to reclaim the Panama Canal during his March 4 address to a joint session of Congress. Watch Trump’s remarks in the player above. “The Panama Canal was built by Americans for Americans, not for others, but others could use it,” Trump said. Trump also raised an unfounded claim that China had any influence or control over the canal. The first speech of Trump’s second term in office, while not officially a State of the Union address, is a chance for the president to lay out legislative priorities and tout early achievements. Trump has moved to deliver on some of his campaign promises at breakneck speed, signing more than 75 executive orders in little more than a month. Thousands of federal workers have been fired at the direction of the Department of Government Efficiency and Trump adviser and billionaire Elon Musk. Close to half of Americans in the latest PBS News/NPR/Marist poll disapprove of Trump’s job performance so far, but his approval rating, at 45 percent, is higher than at any point of his first term. While 54 percent of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction, 45 percent believe the country is on the right track, a 10-point jump from December 2024. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Find more of our coverage READ MORE: How Americans feel about Trump after his first month back in office WATCH: What to expect from Trump’s address to Congress READ MORE: Why Trump’s joint remarks to Congress won’t be a ‘State of the Union’ address WATCH: Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt discusses Trump’s new tariffs ahead of address to Congress READ MORE: What Trump said in his past addresses to Congress WATCH: Rep. Pramila Jayapal on how Democrats will react to Trump’s address READ MORE: 5 things to watch when Trump gives his address to Congress We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas is a senior editor for the PBS NewsHour's Communities Initiative. He's also the senior editor and manager of newsletters. @Josh_Barrage
President Donald Trump reiterated his promise to reclaim the Panama Canal during his March 4 address to a joint session of Congress. Watch Trump’s remarks in the player above. “The Panama Canal was built by Americans for Americans, not for others, but others could use it,” Trump said. Trump also raised an unfounded claim that China had any influence or control over the canal. The first speech of Trump’s second term in office, while not officially a State of the Union address, is a chance for the president to lay out legislative priorities and tout early achievements. Trump has moved to deliver on some of his campaign promises at breakneck speed, signing more than 75 executive orders in little more than a month. Thousands of federal workers have been fired at the direction of the Department of Government Efficiency and Trump adviser and billionaire Elon Musk. Close to half of Americans in the latest PBS News/NPR/Marist poll disapprove of Trump’s job performance so far, but his approval rating, at 45 percent, is higher than at any point of his first term. While 54 percent of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction, 45 percent believe the country is on the right track, a 10-point jump from December 2024. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Enter your email address Subscribe Form error message goes here. Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm. Find more of our coverage READ MORE: How Americans feel about Trump after his first month back in office WATCH: What to expect from Trump’s address to Congress READ MORE: Why Trump’s joint remarks to Congress won’t be a ‘State of the Union’ address WATCH: Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt discusses Trump’s new tariffs ahead of address to Congress READ MORE: What Trump said in his past addresses to Congress WATCH: Rep. Pramila Jayapal on how Democrats will react to Trump’s address READ MORE: 5 things to watch when Trump gives his address to Congress We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now