The Trump administration has revoked Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visa following his participation in a pro-Palestinian protest in New York and public calls for U.S. soldiers to disobey military orders. The State Department labeled Petro’s remarks “reckless and incendiary,” citing them as grounds for immediate diplomatic action.
Petro made the comments during a protest outside the United Nations General Assembly earlier this week. Addressing demonstrators, Petro called on members of the U.S. military to reject orders from President Trump, stating they should “disobey the orders of Trump” in reference to American support for Israel. The remarks were widely condemned as an attempt to undermine U.S. military command and sow division within the armed forces.
In response, the U.S. State Department issued a formal notice announcing the revocation of Petro’s visa. A spokesperson said, “President Petro’s actions are incompatible with the expectations of diplomatic conduct and threaten the stability of U.S. institutions.” The statement made clear that foreign heads of state who engage in hostile rhetoric or encourage insubordination will not be granted unrestricted access to U.S. soil.
Petro responded defiantly, claiming he does not need a U.S. visa due to his European citizenship and accusing the United States of violating international law. He argued that the visa cancellation infringed upon his rights as a visiting head of state to attend U.N. functions. However, U.S. officials have pointed out that Petro was not denied access to the U.N. headquarters under the Host Country Agreement, but was barred from future non-diplomatic visits.
The decision further strains relations between the Trump administration and Colombia’s leftist president, who has previously criticized U.S. immigration policy and drug enforcement cooperation. Under President Trump, the United States has emphasized a hardline stance on foreign interference, maintaining that national sovereignty and military authority must not be undermined by foreign leaders, especially on U.S. soil.
