President Donald Trump reiterated his criticism of Colombia, pledging to end funding to the country over its cocaine production.
In a Sunday Truth Social post, Trump wrote, “President Gustavo Petro, of Colombia, is an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs, in big and small fields, all over Colombia.” He noted the activities have become “the biggest business in Colombia, by far, and Petro does nothing to stop it, despite large scale payments and subsidies from the USA that are nothing more than a long term rip off of America.”
“AS OF TODAY, THESE PAYMENTS, OR ANY OTHER FORM OF PAYMENT, OR SUBSIDIES, WILL NO LONGER BE MADE TO COLOMBIA,” Trump declared. “The purpose of this drug production is the sale of massive amounts of product into the United States, causing death, destruction, and havoc.” He warned that Petro, “better close up these killing fields immediately, or the United States will close them up for him, and it won’t be done nicely.”
President Trump later told reporters on Air Force One: “They make drugs, they refine drugs, they make cocaine, they have cocaine factories. They have no fight against drugs, and I’m stopping all payments to Colombia because they don’t have anything to do with their fight against drugs.”
In September, the Trump administration revoked Petro’s visa following his participation in a Palestinian protest.
“Earlier today, [Petro] stood on a NYC street and urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence,” the State Department said at the time. “We will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions.”
