Trump's media strategy Re: Panama president calls Trump’s talk of ‘reclaiming’ the Panama Canal a lie

In a lot of things, Trump's strategy is his media strategy. Is Trump's
media strategy regarding the Panama Canal working?
On the one hand: Trump’s talk of ‘reclaiming’ the Panama Canal a lie.
On the other hand: The Panama government does refuse to renew the
contract with Hong Kong companies. The refusal opens the door for a
Blackrock company to take over the management of the canal ports.
In this case, it is obvious that Trump won. Basically, Panama president
fails to ask for compensation for what the US has acquired. Namely, the
US now has greater ability to selectively shut down the canal or charge
higher transition fee against certain group of ships through American
companies.
Panama president did not ask because he allows the media to convince him
that Trump's taking over the Panama is more real then it should be. Of
course, no one can totally eliminate the probability of a military take
over. But then such take over would be VERY costly.
Why Trump's media strategy works? And what is the limits of such media
strategy?
For one thing, the US government could forbid differential treatment in
its contract with port management.