By Molly Goddard
7:08am PST, Jan 31, 2025
President Donald Trump isn't messing around when it comes to his interest in taking control of Greenland and the Panama Canal.
During an appearance on SiriusXM's "The Megyn Kelly Show," Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the new commander-in-chief, 78, is completely serious about his vow to acquire the lands to boost U.S. national security.
Join us to hear what Rubio told Megyn Kelly about Trump's plans…
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During an appearance on SiriusXM's "The Megyn Kelly Show," Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the new commander-in-chief, 78, is completely serious about his vow to acquire the lands to boost U.S. national security.
Join us to hear what Rubio told Megyn Kelly about Trump's plans…
MORE: Follow Wonderwall on MSN for more fun celebrity & entertainment photo galleries and content
"This is not a joke," the former senator from Florida explained. "This is not about acquiring land for the purpose of acquiring land. This is in our national interest and it needs to be solved."
Rubio, 53, emphasized how The Apprentice star's approach may startle the public because they aren't used to people in Washington, D.C., working this way. "This is a businessman who's involved in politics, not a politician involved in politics," he noted.
Rubio, 53, emphasized how The Apprentice star's approach may startle the public because they aren't used to people in Washington, D.C., working this way. "This is a businessman who's involved in politics, not a politician involved in politics," he noted.
"So, he approaches these issues from a transactional, business point of view," the ex-speaker of the Florida House of Representatives told the right-wing journalist.
"He is not going to begin what he views as a negotiation or a conversation by taking any leverage off the table," Rubio added. "He wants to buy it, he wants to pay for it."
"He is not going to begin what he views as a negotiation or a conversation by taking any leverage off the table," Rubio added. "He wants to buy it, he wants to pay for it."
The Trump administration member claimed the Arctic Circle will be "critical for shipping lanes" as his boss plans to grow America's energy production. Rubio also alleged Denmark won't be able to stop China should they become interested in the area.
"The Arctic has some of the world's most valuable shipping lanes in the world. We need to be able to defend that," he said.
"The Arctic has some of the world's most valuable shipping lanes in the world. We need to be able to defend that," he said.
"It is completely realistic to believe that the Chinese will eventually, maybe in the short term, try to do in Greenland what they have done at the Panama Canal and in other places and that is install facilities that give them access to the Arctic, with the cover of a Chinese company," Rubio claimed.
The father-of-four is set to fly to Panama this weekend and revealed he plans to address the ownership of the American-built canal during this trip.
The father-of-four is set to fly to Panama this weekend and revealed he plans to address the ownership of the American-built canal during this trip.
"I think the president's been pretty clear he wants to administer the canal again," he explained to Kelly, 54.
Rubio alleged Panama was in "violation of the treaty agreement" because they allowed Chinese companies to use port facilities on the entry and exit points of the canal.
Rubio alleged Panama was in "violation of the treaty agreement" because they allowed Chinese companies to use port facilities on the entry and exit points of the canal.
"That's what President Trump is raising. And we're going to address that topic," the right-leaning politician said while noting the potential of the Chinese government ordering the companies to shut down the canal.
"It's not in the national interest of the United States to have a canal we paid for and we built used as leverage and a weapon against us," Rubio noted.
During Trump's inauguration speech on Monday, January 20, he promised to take back the waterway during his four years in office.
"It's not in the national interest of the United States to have a canal we paid for and we built used as leverage and a weapon against us," Rubio noted.
During Trump's inauguration speech on Monday, January 20, he promised to take back the waterway during his four years in office.
"We didn't give it to China. We gave it to Panama and we're taking it back," he remarked.
In a Thursday, January 30, statement, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino addressed the potential move. "It's impossible," he said in a press conference. "I cannot negotiate and much less open a process of negotiation, over the canal. That's sealed. The canal belongs to Panama."
In a Thursday, January 30, statement, Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino addressed the potential move. "It's impossible," he said in a press conference. "I cannot negotiate and much less open a process of negotiation, over the canal. That's sealed. The canal belongs to Panama."