Trump squared off with one foreign leader and sparks are flying
America isn’t going to roll over anymore. The bosses are back in town.
Now Trump squared off with one foreign leader and sparks are flying.
Trump Rejects Reconciliation with Colombia’s Petro
President Donald Trump has no interest in mending fences with Colombian President Gustavo Petro amid escalating bilateral tensions, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Thursday.
“I don’t think we’re seeing de-escalation from the unhinged leader of Colombia right now,” Leavitt stated during a briefing.
“I don’t think the president, frankly, is interested in that at this point.” Trump’s firm stance underscores his administration’s resolve to prioritize U.S. interests in counter-narcotics efforts, particularly against leaders perceived as soft on drug cartels.
Relations soured after Petro accused the U.S. of k*lling innocent fishermen in Caribbean strikes targeting narco-traffickers. In response, Trump swiftly announced cuts to all counter-narcotics aid to Colombia and new tariffs, labeling Petro a “thug” who is “making a lot of drugs.”
“They’re doing very poorly, Colombia. They make cocaine. They have cocaine factories … and he better watch it or we’ll take very serious action against him and his country,” Trump warned. “What he has led his country into is a death trap.”
Petro’s Retaliation and Legal Threats
Petro hit back hard, threatening to sue Trump in U.S. courts. “From the slanders that have been cast against me in the territory of the United States by high-ranking officials, I will defend myself judicially with American lawyers in the American justice system,” he posted on X.
“I will always stand against genocides and m*rders by those in power in the Caribbean.” Petro added, “When our help is required to fight against drug trafficking, American society will have it. We will fight against the drug traffickers with the states that want our help.”
His alignment with Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has further strained ties, distancing Colombia—a key non-NATO U.S. ally—from Washington.
The U.S. has executed eight strikes on suspected drug vessels from Latin America, with global attention now on whether Trump will authorize operations against Venezuelan targets, including potential indirect action against Maduro. Trump confirmed CIA covert operations in Venezuela and cautioned Colombia of repercussions.
“Petro, a low rated and very unpopular leader, with a fresh mouth toward America, better close up these k*lling fields immediately,” he wrote on Truth Social, “or the United States will close them up for him, and it won’t be done nicely.”
Diplomatic Efforts Amid Standoff
The Colombian Embassy in Washington issued a statement to Fox News Digital seeking de-escalation, noting a recent meeting between the U.S. representative in Bogotá and Petro.
“Both sides agreed to continue dialogue in a spirit of cooperation and mutual respect,” it said.
“The meeting reaffirmed the shared commitment towards efforts against illicit drug trafficking, grounded in accuracy, coordination, and security.” Despite this, Trump’s unyielding approach signals a strategy to pressure nations enabling drug flows into the U.S., positioning his administration as a decisive force against international narcotics threats.
