WASHINGTON (TNND) — Meghan McCain, the daughter of former Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, on Sunday supported President-elect Donald Trump’s call for the United States to take back full control of the Panama Canal.

Trump wrote via Truth Social Saturday that the Central American waterway is critical to U.S. trade, adding that it is in America’s interest to regain control of it. He called on Panamanian officials to cooperate upon his return to the Oval Office.

“When President Jimmy Carter foolishly gave it away for a dollar while in office, management fell solely to Panama, not to China or anyone else,” Trump wrote of the canal. “The fees charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially given the extraordinary generosity the U.S. has shown to Panama. This complete ‘rip-off’ of our country will stop immediately.”

McCain, a self-proclaimed “political nepo baby,” turned to X to support the president-elect’s plan.

“Trump is right about the Panama Canal,” she wrote. “This is very personal – my father was born in the Panama Canal Zone.”

McCain, her late father and Trump have long had a turbulent relationship. Trump’s comments about former Senator McCain, including the claim that he was “not a war hero,” previously sparked bipartisan outrage.

Panama’s conservative President José Raúl Mulino. Trump rejected Trump’s claim to the canal, saying it threatened his country’s sovereignty. He released a video following Trump’s claim that “every square meter of the canal belongs and will continue to belong to Panama.”

“Panamarians may have different views on many issues,” Mulino said. “But when it comes to our canal and our sovereignty, we will all unite under our Panamanian flag.”

Trump responded via Truth Social, saying, “We’ll see!” He also shared a picture of the American flag over the channel with the caption, “Welcome to the United States Channel!”

The United States built the Panama Canal in the early 1900s as a more efficient shipping route for freighters traveling between the Atlantic Ocean and the Pacific. Former President Jimmy Carter signed a treaty in 1977 that handed control of the waterway to Panama.

Trump’s promise comes as he continues to outline plans for his second term. On Sunday he gave a wide-ranging political address in which he promised to end the “transgender madness” in US schools.

“We’re going to get critical race theory and transgender madness out of our schools real quick, and we’re going to get them out of our schools real quick,” Trump said, drawing cheers from the audience. “I will defend religious freedom, I will restore free speech, and I will defend the right to keep and bear arms.”

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