Staff Reports
Political leaders in Colombia are joining forces to call for the impeachment of President Gustavo Petro, and the latest fiasco has become the cherry on top of this political sundae of embarrassment. Petro has apparently turned what could have been a foreign policy discussion into a martial arts match with none other than Donald Trump. The spectacle of a Colombian leader throwing temper tantrums on the world stage isn’t just cringeworthy; it’s downright damaging to the nation’s credibility, especially when it comes to relations with the U.S.
The sparks flew when Petro decided to thumb his nose at the U.S. by refusing deportation flights coming from America. Predictably, Trump responded with threats of imposing tariffs, proving once again that while Petro might want to run a political circus, Trump’s the one holding the lion on a leash. When faced with Trump’s stern warnings, Petro fired back, suggesting a ludicrous 50% tariff on U.S. goods as if that was a reasonable comeback and not the equivalent of throwing a water balloon at a tank.
Colombian President Petro folded almost immediately after President Trump posted that the US would impose strong sanctions on Columbia if they didn’t take their illegals back.
This is what US leadership through strength looks like. pic.twitter.com/DuIuZV8dpT
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) January 26, 2025
With politicians across Colombia red in the face from embarrassment, the calls for Petro’s resignation are getting louder. Conservative Senator María Fernanda Cabal wasted no time in pointing out that Petro seems more inclined to push his socialist agenda than actually govern. The Senator argues that viewing the United States as an enemy is not just a mistake—it’s a fundamental component of the 21st-century socialism mantra that Petro seems to cling to like a dog with a bone. In her view, instead of tackling real problems, Petro distracts the public with fabricated enemies to cover up his administration’s failings.
She suggests that Petro’s antics are a calculated move to centralize control, using isolation as a tool to ensure that national power sits comfortably in his lap. In contrast, Cabal posits that it is those who advocate for freedom and trade who will ultimately lead the way out of this political mire. Impeachment is not just a option; it’s a necessity in her eyes.
Petro’s predecessor, former President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, sounded alarms as well, accusing Petro of cozying up to the socialist regime of Venezuela’s Maduro, while throwing one of America’s best allies under the bus. The Democratic Center party laid the blame squarely at Petro’s feet, claiming he uses the chaos of illegal immigration to distract from the destruction unfolding under his administration. If the last two and a half years are any indication, over two million Colombians fleeing the country isn’t exactly a vote of confidence in Petro’s leadership.
Adding a splash of irony to the situation, Iván Duque pointed out how peculiar it is that Petro can hurl insults at Trump but doesn’t dare challenge other nations who have engaged in similar deportation practices. Duque insists that it’s high time for Colombia to return to a position of moral clarity, not just on the international stage but also in terms of welcoming back its own citizens who have suffered under the weight of a government that seems, at best, confused and, at worst, determined to push its anti-American narrative.
