Trump Nominates Miami-Dade Commissioner as Panama Ambassador Amid Canal Dispute

President-elect Donald Trump announced on Christmas Day the nomination of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera as the next U.S. ambassador to Panama. The decision comes during a heated exchange between Trump and Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino over Panama Canal fees, which Trump has criticized as unfair to the United States.

Cabrera, the son of Cuban immigrants and a staunch Trump ally, has a history of advocating for the president’s “America First” policies. His resume includes serving as Trump’s 2020 campaign director and Florida director for the America First Policy Institute. Cabrera currently serves as vice chairman of Miami-Dade County’s International Trade Consortium.

In accepting the nomination, Cabrera emphasized his commitment to Trump’s vision for international diplomacy. “I am committed to supporting President Trump’s America First vision and will work tirelessly every day to uphold his bold approach to international diplomacy,” Cabrera said in a statement to the Miami Herald.

Cabrera’s nomination aligns with Trump’s plan to install loyalists in key diplomatic positions. If confirmed, he would likely work under Trump’s nominee for Secretary of State, Florida Senator Marco Rubio, further solidifying Florida’s influence in the administration.

The nomination follows Trump’s sharp criticism of Panama’s management of the canal. In a recent statement, Trump called the fees charged to U.S. shipping “ridiculous” and warned that the U.S. might consider retaking control of the canal if rates aren’t reduced.

“Our Navy and Commerce have been treated in a very unfair and injudicious way,” Trump stated. “This complete ‘rip-off’ of our Country will immediately stop.”

Panama’s President José Raúl Mulino fired back, asserting that the canal is a sovereign asset. “Every square meter of the Panama Canal and its adjacent area belong to PANAMA, and will continue to be,” Mulino declared. “The sovereignty and independence of our country are not negotiable.”

If confirmed by the Senate, Cabrera will be tasked with navigating one of the most critical and contentious diplomatic issues between the U.S. and Panama: control and access to the Panama Canal. His ability to manage this dispute will be closely watched as Trump’s administration ramps up its “America First” foreign policy agenda.

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