Trump avoids question about previous stated plans to retake Panama Canal

Washington, Jan 21 (AP) US President Donald Trump in his inaugural address last year and during the transition spoke of retaking the Panama Canal.
    But Trump in recent months has been relatively quiet about the issue after claiming that China was “operating the Panama Canal” and “we're taking back.”
    Trump's complaint is that the United States, the shipping lane's biggest user, was “being severely overcharged and not treated fairly.”
    Asked if the US reclaiming the canal was still on the table, Trump demurred.
    “I don't want to tell you that,” the president responded while appearing at Tuesday's White House press briefing to mark the first anniversary of the start of his second term.
Trump's at-times rambling briefing included a split second of religious reflection.
    A reporter asked Trump if he believed God was proud of him, after the president had last year said he believed he got into office because God put him there to save the world.
    “I think God is very proud of the job I've done, and that includes religion,” Trump replied.
“We're protecting a lot of people that are being killed. Christians, Jewish people, lots of people are being protected by me that wouldn't be protected by another type of president.” (AP) ARI
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(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)