Trump’s demand that US ships pass Suez Canal without charge sparked condemnation across the airwaves

To say that Trump’s recent statement on the Suez Canal was received badly on the airwaves would be an understatement. American President Donald Trump’s demand that American military and commercial vessels pass the Suez Canal and Panama canal “free of charge” sparked outrage, condemnation, and even mockery across the channels last night.

The Suez Canal “is a national symbol that is not up for negotiation,” retired army general and strategic affairs expert Wael Rabie told Al Sa’aa Al Sadesa’s Azza Mostafa (watch, runtime: 7:20). Rabie emphasised that some 120k Egyptians died during the canal’s construction, which was financed entirely by Egyptians.

There were also tough words for the US president on Ahmed Moussa’s Ala Masouleety, with international law expert Mohamed Mahran telling the presenter that Trump’s remarks represent a blatant violation of international law and an assault on Egyptian sovereignty (watch, runtime: 6:36). International law professor Ayman Salama similarly told Al Hayah Al Youm’s Lobna Assal that Egypt’s sovereignty over the canal is protected by international law and the Constantinople Convention, which prohibits any external party from compromising the canal’s neutrality (watch, runtime: 10:03).

Lamees also weighed in — and didn’t hold back. Though she didn’t tackle the issue on Kelma Akhira, Lamees El Hadidi took to X to deliver a sharp response to Trump’s comments. El Hadidi stressed that the US had “no role whatsoever” in the construction, operation, or protection of the Suez Canal — as seemed to be claimed by Trump — adding that Trump appeared to confuse the Suez Canal with the Panama Canal. In a separate post, El Hadidi reminded Trump that the Suez Canal opened in 1869 — while the US was barely recovering from its civil war and still grappling with slavery.