Colombian President Gustavo Petro has sparked controversy by suggesting in an interview that U.S. President Donald J. Trump should be “eliminated” to address disputes over military actions targeting drug trafficking in the Caribbean. The remarks, made during a Monday evening conversation with Univision, mark a sharp escalation in Petro’s public criticism of Trump’s policies.
Petro stated, “If not—get rid of Trump,” while snapping his fingers for emphasis, according to reports. He accused Trump of overstepping by intervening in Colombia’s internal affairs, arguing that the U.S. leader has no authority over the nation’s governance. “Trump said: ‘Colombia is out of control.’ Of course, it is out of his control. In a democracy, a government is under the control of the people, not Trump,” Petro asserted.
The Marxist leader also condemned what he described as Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, declaring, “Here, the heads of kings are cut off if they come with a king’s attitude.” This rhetoric follows Trump’s recent accusations that Colombia is failing to curb drug production and support for Venezuela’s regime. The U.S. military has been conducting airstrikes in the Caribbean since September to disrupt cartel operations, with Trump formally labeling the conflict as an “armed conflict” with Latin American cartels in early October.
Trump responded by calling Petro a “lunatic” and the “worst president they’ve ever had,” vowing to halt financial aid to Colombia over its alleged complicity in cocaine production. The exchange highlights deepening tensions between the two leaders, with Petro’s inflammatory language drawing sharp criticism from U.S. officials.
