White House accuses Panama of being unaware of situation at canal

Catch up quick: "My administration will be reclaiming the Panama Canal, and we've already started doing it," Trump said during his address to Congress on Tuesday.

• His comments were regarding BlackRock's agreement to acquire two ports serving the canal from a Chinese group, CK Hutchinson, as part of a larger $22.8 billion deal.

Zoom in: Mulino on Wednesday rejected the notion that the deal came about because of pressure from the U.S. and he accused Trump of "lying again."

• "I reject in the name of Panama and all Panamanians this new affront to the truth and our dignity as a nation," he said in a post on X translated from Spanish.
• "The Panama Canal is not in the process of being restored, and this is certainly not the task that was even discussed in our conversations with Secretary Rubio or anyone else," he said.

What they're saying: Asked about Mulino's comments Wednesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said during a press conference, "I'm not sure if Panama has seen what's going on with their own canal."

• She added, "Blackrock is now interested in investing and taking over the two ends of the port, which is very important because the president was very vocal several weeks ago about the need to ensure that China is not controlling the Panama Canal."

Context: Trump has threatened to retake control of the Panama Canal over what he perceives to be unfair treatment of U.S. vessels because of Chinese influence.

• He's demanded that Panamanian authorities either lower fees for U.S. ships to transit the Panama Canal or return its control to the U.S.

Flashback: Then-President Jimmy Carter signed treaties with Panama's leader in 1977 for the U.S. to gradually cede control of the canal, which connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

• Panama took over control of the waterway on Dec. 31, 1999.

Go deeper: BlackRock buying two Panama Canal ports from China's Hutchinson