Petro Calls for Protests Against Trump
Colombia’s leftist President Gustavo Petro urged his supporters on Tuesday to participate in rallies this week, framing the events as a necessary defense against “monsters like Trump.”
This call was made during a cabinet meeting broadcast by the Colombian president’s office. The rally, set for Friday in Bogotá’s Plaza Bolívar—named after Venezuela’s liberator, Simón Bolívar—will show support for Petro and opposition to Trump.
“The nation must take to the streets today. I invite you all to join me on Friday at 4 p.m. We protect ourselves from monsters like Trump with our allies,” Petro emphasized.
The planned rally arises amid rising diplomatic tensions between Colombia and the United States, which stem from Petro’s policies. By acting against the Trump administration, Petro has jeopardized over two centuries of friendship between the two nations.
While Petro continues to express hostility toward President Trump, he recently escalated his rhetoric. He accused the U.S. of “murdering” Trump via military actions intended to combat drug trafficking in the Caribbean, and he urged the U.S. military to ignore Trump’s orders, suggesting the former president should face prosecution for alleged complicity in “genocide” in Gaza.
Just hours before calling for the rally, Petro publicly advocated for Trump’s removal from office during a lengthy speech. Earlier that day, he met with university president Daniel Coronel, followed by a discussion with John McNamara, the Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá. The Colombian Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to the talks as a preliminary effort to address the diplomatic breakdown.
Trump and several U.S. lawmakers, including Senators Bernie Moreno and Representative Carlos Jimenez, criticized Petro’s anti-American stance and how he has managed Colombia’s ongoing battle against illegal drug production and trafficking.
Highlighting the surge in drug production under Petro’s leadership, Trump labeled him an “illegal drug leader” and declared the halt of all U.S. financial support to Colombia. Petro responded on social media, calling Trump “rude and ignorant” and characterizing his remarks as a direct threat to Colombian sovereignty.
Before announcing the upcoming rally, Petro shared an extensive social media message accusing Trump and Senator Moreno of attempting to orchestrate a “coup” in Colombia against his presidency.
“Colombia is the center of the world, and an invasion of Colombia is an invasion of the center of the world. I urge the international community to assist us,” Petro stated during his address.
He added, “Earlier, I called for help for Palestine. Now help us, because they want to attack us. Trump believes in the mafia,” he continued, noting the lengthy nature of his discussion and suggesting they would revisit the topic another time.
In response, Senator Moreno labeled Petro’s allegations as “100 percent false,” asserting that the U.S. desires Colombians to have free and fair elections without external interference.
In his appeal to the public, Petro encouraged Bogota and Cundinamarca citizens to gather in Plaza Bolívar on Friday at 4 p.m. for what he hopes will be a significant display of support for Colombian sovereignty and dignity.
He remarked, “Given the amount of slander spread by Trump and his allies in Florida, I have discussed Colombia’s role in drug trafficking for 25 years. The core issue isn’t that our anti-drug policy has failed, but that it’s an anti-drug trafficking approach, not merely anti-drug.”
Petro, an advocate for the legalization of various drugs, differentiated between the substances themselves and the individuals profiting from the drug trade.
