SAT . Colombia’s president muses about getting ‘rid of’ Trump in menacing interview as drug feud intensifies
WASHINGTON — Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro mused about getting “rid of” President Trump in a shocking interview — as a bitter feud over Trump’s crackdown on drugs intensifies.
Over the weekend, Trump threatened to close up the “killing fields” in Colombia and announced he was slashing US subsidies for the Latin American country after Petro accused the US of “murder” over a Sept. 15 attack against an alleged drug boat.
“Humanity has a first offramp, it is to choose to change Trump in various ways,” Petro told Univision’s Daniel Coronell, per a translation, when asked about his goal of getting the best possible negotiation for his country.
“The easiest way may be through Trump himself,” Petro added. “If not — get rid of Trump,” he continued, snapping his fingers dramatically.
Petro also denied that his immediate goal is to “change Trump” after Coronell suggested his primary “mission is to seek the best possible negotiation.”
The South American leader admitted that his country is “out of control,” but argued that Bogotá is run by its people and not a “king.”
“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. He is not a king in Colombia; we do not accept kings here, period,” Petro vented.
“In the 21st century, some believe they can become kings and viceroys, but in republics, it is not possible,” he later said. “Here, the heads of kings are cut off if they come with a king’s attitude.”
A feud between the two world leaders has been simmering since the Trump administration’s September strike on an alleged drug boat.
Trump said the attack killed “confirmed narcoterrorists from Venezuela” who were in international waters at the time.
Petro, however, claimed that the boat was a Colombian vessel and was used for fishing and not the transportation of drugs.
“US government officials have committed a murder and violated our sovereignty in territorial waters,” Petro wrote on X, per a translation. “The Colombian boat was adrift and had its distress signal up due to an engine failure.
“We await explanations from the US government.”
A CNN report later claimed that another one of Trump’s recent strikes in the Caribbean had killed Colombian nationals, citing Pentagon officials.
Trump on Sunday blasted his Colombian counterpart as a “very unpopular leader, with a fresh mouth toward America” and “an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs.”
In addition to cutting off foreign aid to Colombia, Trump threatened to ratchet up tariffs on Bogotá, which currently pays the baseline 10% rate.
The US has sent over $207 million worth of foreign aid to Colombia this year, according to foreignassistance.gov.
Trump has authorized at least seven known strikes against alleged drug boats in the region, primarily targeted at vessels believed to have links to Venezuela. The move has sparked unease from Democrats in Congress and some Republicans, such as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.).
Petro’s screed against Trump drew concern from Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), who sits on the House Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees.
“In an interview with [Univision Noticias], Colombia’s narcoterrorist-in-chief, Gustavo Petro, has just threatened to ‘overthrow’ President Trump. Petro threats must be taken seriously, he is a genuine threat to the safety & security of our hemisphere,” Gimenez warned on X.
