By: Staff Writer
October 21, 2025
The war of words between US president Donald Trump and Colombia’s president Gustavo Petro is heating up with Trump calling Petro an “illegal drug dealer,” on social media on Sunday.
Trump also 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.”
Petro fired back at Trump, warning him that he has to “change his heart” or risk losing future elections.
Petro made the claim in an interview with Univision, prompting claims by detractors that he was threatening to “overthrow” Trump. One of them was Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez, who claimed that “Petro’s threats must be taken seriously.” “He is a genuine threat to the safety & security of our hemisphere,” Gimenez added in a social media publication.
The open spat came as a result of the Trump administration using air strikes, targeting Venezuelan boats that it suspects to be involved in drug trafficking. One such strike had Colombians on board, prompting the Trump administration to widen his most recent attacks against the Nicolas Maduro regime to now Petro’s Colombia.
Petro has called for the Trump administration to verify that all of the most recent air strikes against suspected drug boats were accurate and not targeting innocent civilians.
That notwithstanding, Trump also told reporters aboard Air Force One that Colombia has “no fight against drugs” and “they are a drug manufacturing machine” with “a lunatic” for a president. He said that he would announce new tariffs on Monday.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth also announced the latest U.S. strike on a vessel that was allegedly carrying “substantial amounts of narcotics.”
U.S. financial aid to Colombia has been cut off, according to a strongly worded post by President Trump who accused President Gustavo Petro of “encouraging the massive production of drugs, in big and small fields” despite the South American country receiving subsidies.
Writing on Truth Social, the White House incumbent announced that “as of today, these payments, or any other form of payment, or subsidies, will no longer be made to Colombia”.
Petro for his part took to Twitter to defend his track record on drugs reduction, claiming reduced coca cultivation during his administration, and that his controversial Total Peace process – which many see as a failed initiative leading to an increase of criminal gangs across the country – may still bear fruit.
“Trying to push for peace does not make one a drug trafficker,” he said.