President Donald Trump issued a scathing warning to Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Wednesday, calling him a “thug” and threatening “very serious action” after Petro said the world should “get rid” of Trump.
The exchange marked the latest escalation in a war of words between the two leaders, reflecting deepening tensions between Washington and Bogotá under Petro’s left-wing government.
Speaking from the White House, Trump was asked by a reporter about Petro’s remarks earlier in the week. The president’s response was characteristically blunt. “Well, he’s a thug and a bad guy,” Trump said. “He’s a guy who is making a lot of drugs.” The president then shifted from his trademark humor to a pointed warning. “As of today, we have stopped all payments going to Colombia — the country Colombia — also the school Columbia,” he joked, earning a few laughs before adding, “No, we settled.”
Trump went on to condemn Petro’s record as president, accusing him of enabling the drug trade that continues to flood the United States. “He’s hurt his country very badly, they’re doing very poorly, Colombia,” Trump said. “They make cocaine — they have cocaine factories. They grow all sorts of crap — that’s drugs, bad drugs coming into the United States, goes generally through Mexico. And he better watch it, or we’ll take very serious action against him and his country.”
The president accused Petro of turning Colombia into a “death trap” since taking office in 2022, underscoring what many in Washington have viewed as a dangerous slide toward instability under the leftist leader.
The confrontation follows a series of bitter exchanges between the two men. Last week, Petro accused the United States of murdering Colombian fishermen in a strike off the country’s coast — an allegation the Trump administration dismissed as “absolute nonsense.” Trump said the operation targeted and killed two “narcoterrorists” who were attempting to smuggle drugs into the United States aboard a “drug-carrying submarine.”
The dispute appears to have begun days earlier on social media. On October 19, Trump attacked Petro on Truth Social, calling him an “unpopular fresh mouth” and an “illegal drug leader.” Petro’s retaliatory comments came the next day in an interview with Univision, where he said “humanity” should “get rid” of Trump.
Trump’s remarks Wednesday signaled that his administration intends to take a tougher line on Colombia if Petro continues his anti-American rhetoric. His reference to “stopping all payments” could point to potential cuts in U.S. aid or cooperation, long a cornerstone of U.S.-Colombian relations.
For decades, Colombia has been one of Washington’s key partners in the Western Hemisphere, particularly in anti-narcotics operations. But under Petro, a former guerrilla fighter and self-described socialist, relations with the United States have cooled, even as Colombia continues to struggle with drug trafficking and violence.
Trump’s warning reflects his broader posture toward Latin American leaders seen as hostile to U.S. interests. His comments suggest a readiness to use economic and diplomatic pressure to curb what he views as Petro’s reckless leadership and anti-American provocations. “He better watch it,” Trump said, “or we’ll take very serious action against him and his country.”
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