President Donald Trump on Sunday intensified his criticism of Colombia, calling the nation’s far-left leader, Gustavo Petro, a “lunatic” and “the worst president they’ve ever had.”
Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump declared that he would halt all U.S. payments to Colombia, accusing the country of fueling, rather than fighting, the international cocaine trade.
“They make drugs, they refine drugs, they make cocaine, they have cocaine factories,” Trump said. “They have no fight against drugs, and I’m stopping all payments to Colombia because they don’t have anything to do with their fight against drugs.”
The comments marked one of Trump’s most aggressive personal attacks yet on Petro, whom he has previously labeled an “illegal drug leader” and accused of “encouraging the massive production of narcotics” across Colombia. Trump also confirmed he would be announcing new tariffs on Monday, echoing a post from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) who wrote on X:
“President Trump … informed me that he is going to be hitting Colombia, not only their drug dealers and traders, but also where it hurts, in the wallet. He will be announcing major Tariffs against the Country of Colombia, today or tomorrow.”
In a Truth Social post earlier in the day, Trump warned that Petro “better close up” drug operations “or the United States will close them up for him, and it won’t be done nicely.” He also accused the Colombian president of having “a fresh mouth toward America,” saying drug smuggling persists “despite large scale payments and subsidies from the USA that are nothing more than a long-term rip off of America.”
“AS OF TODAY, THESE PAYMENTS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT, OR SUBSIDIES, WILL NO LONGER BE MADE TO COLOMBIA,” Trump wrote.
The fiery exchange underscores a long and increasingly bitter relationship between Trump and Petro. Since Petro’s election, Trump has repeatedly clashed with him over drug policy, migration, and trade. Trump has accused Petro’s administration of failing to control coca production and aligning too closely with leftist regimes in Latin America. Petro, for his part, has portrayed Trump as disrespectful and uninformed about Colombia’s internal reforms, arguing that his government has worked to curb drug trafficking while promoting peace.
Responding to Trump’s latest remarks, Petro fired back on X, insisting the accusations distort Colombia’s record.
“Trying to promote peace in Colombia is not being a drug trafficker,” Petro wrote. He added that Trump was being “rude and ignorant toward Colombia,” claiming he was “the main enemy” of drugs in his country and suggesting the former U.S. president had been misled by his advisers.
The sharp words highlight a deepening diplomatic rift between Washington and one of its closest historical allies in Latin Americ
Colombia has been involved in drugs forever. Any funds to them should have been cut off decades ago. It is great to have a president who is going to punish them for their active involvement in drugs. But in reality how many south american countries are not into drugs in some way? What a mess!
Medical research needs to find a way to end the craving of drugs, etc.. Direct the funds to that research and put the drug business out of business!