*Administration of Donald J. Trump, 2017 *

**Remarks Prior to a Meeting With President Juan Carlos Varela of Panama **

*June 19, 2017 *

*President Trump.* It's our great honor to have President and Mrs. Varela from Panama. And we have many things to discuss. We're going to spend quite a bit of time today. The Panama Canal is doing quite well. I think we did a good job building it, right? [*Laughter*]

*President Varela.* Yes. One hundred years ago, yes.

*President Trump.* We did a very good job. But things are going well in Panama. The relationship has been very strong. We are developing new things to do and only getting stronger. And our—also friendship with the President is very, very good.

So I just want to thank you very much.

*President Varela.* Thank you, Mr. President.

*President Trump*. And it's an honor to have you at the White House. Thank you.

*President Varela.* Thank you, Mr. President.

*Q. *Mr. President, are you under investigation by the Special Counsel?

*President Trump*. Do you want to say something?

*President Varela. *I would like to thank President Trump for—I would like to thank President Trump and his wife for receiving us today at the White House. It's an honor for me to be here. There's a long friendship between Panama and the United States, and we face the same challenges in the region. So the idea of this visit is to work closely together to face the same challenges that we have in the region of Central America and Latin America and in our continent.

So I'm really happy to be here today and the—for 4 days in Washington and looking forward to this meeting and the meeting with the other directors of the agencies to establish—to work together very closely with the—Mr. President Trump administration for the future of the region.

*President Trump.* Thank you.

*President Varela.* Thank you.

*President Trump.* Again, thank you. Thank you very much, everybody. Thank you.

NOTE: The President spoke at 11:39 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Lorena Castillo de Varela, wife of President Varela. A reporter referred to Department of Justice Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III.

*Categories:* Meetings With Foreign Leaders and International Officials : Panama, President Varela*.*

*Locations: *Washington, DC.

*Names:* Castillo de Varela, Lorena; Varela, Juan Carlos*.*

*Subjects:* Panama : Relations with U.S.; Panama: President. *DCPD Number:* DCPD201700411.