Trump warns Colombia’s President Petro after controversial comment
President Donald Trump on Wednesday sternly warned the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, following a controversial remark by the Colombian leader.
In an interview with Univision, Petro was questioned about deteriorating U.S.-Colombia relations amid criticism of the United States’ crackdown on drug trafficking in Latin America.
“Humanity has a first offramp and it is to change Trump, in various ways,” he said regarding securing the best negotiation for his nation. “The easiest way may be through Trump himself. If not, get rid of Trump.”
Although Petro has publicly denied that he was threatening Trump, the U.S. President warned that both Petro and Colombia could face America’s wrath.
“He better watch it, or we will take very serious action against him and his country. He’s a thug and a bad guy,” Trump asserted at the White House in response to a reporter referencing Petro’s comments.
The President also confirmed an embargo on all financial assistance to Colombia. “Payments and subsidies from the USA are nothing more than a long term rip off of America,” he earlier complained in a Truth Social post.
Since September, the United States has carried out nine known strikes against alleged narcotics-trafficking vessels, resulting in at least 35 deaths. The first seven strikes took place in the Caribbean Sea, while the two most recent strikes occurred in the East Pacific.
“US government officials have committed a murder and violated our sovereignty in territorial waters,” Petro wrote on X last Saturday. “The Colombian boat (struck Sept. 15) was adrift and had its distress signal up due to an engine failure.”
The following day, Trump accused Petro of “encouraging the massive production of drugs in big and small fields,” adding that “the United States will close them up for him, and it won’t be done nicely.”
During his visit to New York for the UN General Assembly, Petro, while addressing pro-Palestine protesters, urged the U.S. military to “disobey the orders of Trump and obey the orders of humanity,” prompting the State Department to revoke his visa.