President-elect Donald Trump has shown interest in expanding the United States through the acquisition of Canada, Greenland and the Panama Canal. Kennesaw State students tell us what they think.
President-elect Donald Trump’s recent press conference at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida featured an array of different topics— offshore drilling, criticism of Jimmy Carter, potential Gaza hostage talks and more.
The part of this conference that stood out the most, though, was his discussion of acquiring Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada.
Trump’s desire for the three come from different places. Trump’s interest in the Panama Canal is rooted in both expansionist ideology and his disdain for China. He said that the Canal is needed for “economic security” and falsely claimed that it is being “operated by China.”
Similarly, he said “We need Greenland for national security purposes,” continuing, “look outside. You have China ships all over the place. You have Russian ships all over the place.”
His talk of Canada differs from the others, though. Many officials believe his comments on Canada becoming a 51st state are less serious.
“I don’t take Canada as seriously, He’s just making fun of [Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau,” says a senior aide to a GOP senator.
John Bolton, a former Trump national security adviser, claims that Trump’s remarks about Canada are “an epic troll.”
Trump’s comments bring mixed emotions to Kennesaw State students.
International affairs major Vitaly Santana Herrera feels that there are more important issues in America to deal with.
“Right now with the price of inflation, the price of goods, I think we need to be worrying about how we’re gonna bring that down before we worry about other countries.”
Trump’s switch in agenda, to Herrera, evokes mistrust.
“He did not say that he was going to do any of this while he was campaigning, and I think that in order for us to trust a politician we need to understand what exactly it is they’re going to do.”
She continued, “I don’t think it was very right of him to just come out of nowhere acting like Putin, in a sense, wanting to invade countries that literally have nothing to do with us.”
Herrera also feels his sudden talk of expansion is too impulsive.
“We don’t know what his moves are. It’s like he has no plan written down and he’s just going on the fly, spontaneously. This isn’t going out with your friends, this is the state of our next four years.”
Trump’s claims that Greenland and the Panama Canal are important for American security aren’t reciprocated by Herrera.
“I don’t see the benefit, I don’t really see why he said that if I’m being honest.”
Another KSU student, nursing major Ethan Lang, felt weary of the repercussions Trump’s comments might have on U.S international relations.
“What happens if you push [Greenland and Canada] into Russia’s hand? It’s exactly what you don’t want to happen. You’re kind of putting us at more of a national risk.”
Lang continues, “It obviously wouldn’t be good. I think, like I was saying, it might push Canada into trying to make other allies.”
Lang explains Trump’s talk of acquiring these states made him rethink his view of him.
“At first I was thinking that he was kind of good, foreign relation wise, just because he had a strong relationship with Russia and visited China and North Korea. But I’m not too sure it is now, because, I mean, why would you keep doing all these things?”
Political Science major Eilidh Munro feels Trump’s comments shouldn’t be taken as seriously as they are.
“I don’t think any of this is actually going to happen. I don’t think he’s actually going to get Panama or Greenland.”
Munro explains that, while there is a potential for things to escalate, this could just be another example of Trump talking without intention of following through.
“I’m sure there will be a bill introduced and it’ll make headlines for a while, but I seriously doubt it will go anywhere.”
Munro also said, “I wonder if this is just the news cycle conflating every little thing he says.”
As the United States prepares for a new presidential term, Trump’s ambitious plans for his early days in office grow near. These comments on the acquisition of Greenland, the Panama Canal and Canada can either die down or ramp up, depending on what President-elect Trump decides.
