President-elect Donald Trump took another shot at Panama on Wednesday as he announced his choice for the next ambassador to the Latin American country.

Mr. Trump picked Miami-Dade County Commissioner Kevin Marino Cabrera for the post, calling him “a fierce fighter for America First principles” and saying “few understand Latin American politics as well as Kevin.”

As is his occasional habit, Mr. Trump chose to use the Christmas Day announcement as something more like a “Seinfeld” episode’s airing of grievances on Festivus.

Mr. Trump opened his statement announcing the pick by saying Mr. Cabrera will be the next ambassador “to the Republic of Panama, a Country that is ripping us off on the Panama Canal, far beyond their wildest dreams.”

It was the third time in less than a week that Mr. Trump has accused Panama of “ripping off” the U.S. over the canal, which the U.S. built early in the 20th century and owned and operated it until turning it fully over to Panama in 1999.

On Sunday, at a speech in Phoenix, Mr. Trump called Panama’s fees “ridiculous” and “highly unfair” and said that if that didn’t change, “we will demand that the Panama Canal be returned to the United States of America in full, quickly and without question.”

The previous day, he made a near identical claim and said “this complete ‘rip-off’ of our Country will immediately stop,” although he did not forthrightly demand the return of the canal in so many words.

Wednesday’s ambassador announcement also didn’t make an explicit demand for the canal.

Mr. Cabrera also served as the Florida state director for Mr. Trump’s 2020 campaign and was a member of the RNC Platform Committee.

• Victor Morton can be reached at vmorton@washingtontimes.com.