Wassermann Schultz Chides 'Preposterous' Panama Canal Talks

President-elect Donald Trump (R) generated some controversy with his Christmas message after he suggested the United States should take control of the Panama Canal. Citing the alleged influence of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) on the canal, Republicans have come out in support of the claim. Democrats like Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) however questions talks of reclaiming the Panama Canal, calling it "preposterous."

On Christmas Day, President-elect Trump made headlines after calling out "the wonderful soldiers of China, who are lovingly, but illegally, operating the Panama Canal."

With the announcement of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera (R) as the ambassador to Panama, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis (R) became the latest Republican to share support for the idea of reclaiming the Panama Canal and pushing back influence from the CCP.

He called reclaiming the canal "good for America's economic and national security interests."

However, Democrats are pushing back against the idea, calling it irrational diplomacy and an effort that will put Panama and the United States at odds.

During an interview with CNN, Rep. Wasserman Schultz expressed disapproval of the suggestion, saying that "it is utterly preposterous to suggest that we are going to send our military into Panama to 'take back the Panama Canal.'"

"We have a treaty with Panama. We have a free trade agreement with Panama. We are no more going to take back the Panama Canal than Panama is gonna come in and try to take the Mississippi River from us," she added.

"We have to have balanced, rational diplomacy."

Florida Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R) was recently asked if he believed President-elect Trump would use the military to reclaim the Panama Canal. The Florida Republican did not commit on the military being used for such effort, but he did reiterate that "President Trump is going to put America first, and this Canal should have never been given up."