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‘Go to hell!’: Donald Trump posts unusual Christmas message

Donald Trump has posted a strange Christmas message, in which he has doubled down on his plans to purchase Greenland.

Panama's president reasserts the country's sovereignty over the Panama Canal

Donald Trump has taken aim at China and told death row prisoners whose sentences were reduced by President Joe Biden to “go to hell” in a lengthy Christmas message, in which he also doubled down on his desire to claim both the Panama Canal and Greenland for the United States.

In a message on Truth Social, the President-elect also slammed Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau amid ongoing tensions in the nation’s government.

Mr Trudeau’s job is currently on the line after the surprise resignation of Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who clashed with her boss over Mr Trump’s threats to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian imports.

Demonstrators burn a banner with the image of US President-elect Donald Trump during a protest outside the US embassy in Panama City. Picture: Arnulfo Franco/AFP
Demonstrators burn a banner with the image of US President-elect Donald Trump during a protest outside the US embassy in Panama City. Picture: Arnulfo Franco/AFP

Mr Trump is making the most of the unrest – calling Mr Trudeau the “governor” of Canada and declaring that making the United States’s northern neighbour the 51st US state would be a “great idea”.

This past week, Mr Trump has also been ruffling feathers across the globe - declaring he would “take control” of the Panama Canal and Greenland to strengthen America’s foothold in key strategic areas.

On Tuesday, Greenland’s Prime Minister Mute Egede was quick to shutdown Mr Trump’s interest - renewed from his first term as president, when he floated the idea of the US buying Greenland.

“Greenland is ours. We are not for sale and will never be for sale. We must not lose our long struggle for freedom,” Mr Egede said in a statement.

Mr Trump has renewed his desire to purchase Greenland. Picture: Olivier Morin/AFP
Mr Trump has renewed his desire to purchase Greenland. Picture: Olivier Morin/AFP

“Merry Christmas to all, including to the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal (where we lost 38,000 people in its building 110 years ago),” Mr Trump said in his Christmas post.

“Also, to Governor Justin Trudeau of Canada, whose Citizens’ Taxes are far too high, but if Canada was to become our 51st State, their Taxes would be cut by more than 60 per cent, their businesses would immediately double in size, and they would be militarily protected like no other Country anywhere in the World.

“Likewise, to the people of Greenland, which is needed by the United States for National Security purposes and, who want the U.S. to be there, and we will!”

Mr Trump doubled down on his comments this week. Picture: X
Mr Trump doubled down on his comments this week. Picture: X
The message was posted to social media platform Truth Social. Picture: X
The message was posted to social media platform Truth Social. Picture: X

In “part two” of the Christmas message, Mr Trump took aim at “radical left lunatics” who were “constantly trying to obstruct our court system and our elections” and spoke about the 37 criminals who were saved from death row by Mr Biden.

On Monday, Mr Biden commuted the sentences for 37 out of 40 federal inmates on death row and converted them to life in prison without parole.

“They know that their only chance of survival is getting pardons from a man who has absolutely no idea what he is doing,” said Mr Trump.

“Also, to the 37 most violent criminals, who killed, raped, and plundered like virtually no one before them, but were just given, incredibly, a pardon by Sleepy Joe Biden.

“I refuse to wish a Merry Christmas to those lucky ‘souls’ but, instead, will say, GO TO HELL! We had the Greatest Election in the Hi story (sic) of our Country, a bright light is now shining over the U.S.A. and, in 26 days, we will, MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN. MERRY CHRISTMAS!”

Mr Trump also posted a more traditional video message on social media alongside his wife Melania, in which the couple thanked law enforcement and wished “all Americans” a merry Christmas.

Panama Canal

Mr Trump started to roll out his rhetoric regarding the Panama Canal on Sunday, at a convention for young Republicans, called AmericaFest.

He said the Panamanian authorities had not treated the US “fairly” since the nation ceded control in 1999.

US President-elect Donald Trump speaks during Turning Point's annual AmericaFest 2024 on December 22, 2024. Picture: Josh Edelson/AFP
US President-elect Donald Trump speaks during Turning Point's annual AmericaFest 2024 on December 22, 2024. Picture: Josh Edelson/AFP

The Panama Canal connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean.

Its shortcut greatly reduces the time for ships to travel between the oceans, enabling them to avoid the lengthy, hazardous route around the southernmost tip of South America.

“The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, highly unfair,” he said, adding that when he becomes president, “this complete rip-off of our country will immediately stop”.

If shipping fees are not lowered, Mr Trump warned his administration “will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to us, in full, quickly and without question”.

“We’re not going to stand for it. So to the officials of Panama, please be guided accordingly.”

Originally published as ‘Go to hell!’: Donald Trump posts unusual Christmas message

Read related topics:Donald TrumpJoe Biden

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/world/go-to-hell-donald-trump-posts-unusual-christmas-message/news-story/d59acd3552de0100ef53986295638173