WASHINGTON — Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro mused about getting “rid of” President Trump in a shocking interview — as a bitter feud over a US crackdown on drug trafficking in Latin America intensifies.
Over the weekend, Trump threatened to close up the “killing fields” in Colombia and announced he was slashing US subsidies for the South American country after Petro accused the US of “murder” over a Sept. 15 attack against an alleged drug boat.
“Humanity has a first offramp, it is to choose to change Trump in various ways,” Petro told Univision’s Daniel Coronell, per a translation, when asked about his goal of getting the best possible negotiation for his country.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro mused about getting “rid of” Trump in a shocking interview amid their escalating drug feud. Univision
Trump recently announced he was slashing US subsisides for Colombia. AP“The easiest way may be through Trump himself,” Petro added. “If not — get rid of Trump,” he continued, snapping his fingers dramatically.
After the interview, the Colombian leader publicly refuted concerns that he was threatening Trump.
“I did not threaten Trump, I only said that Trump should change his heart, from defending death policies in the world like the genocide in Palestine, to life policies,” Petro shot back on X, per a translation.
“If there is no such change, then the American people themselves will change Trump, because one cannot go toward general suicide.”
Petro pushed back against Trump’s claims that Colombia is “out of control.” UnivisionDuring the interview, the South American leader also admitted that his country is “out of control,” but argued that Bogotá is run by its people and not a “king.”
“Trump said: ‘Colombia is out of control.’ Of course, it is out of his control. In a democracy, a government is under the control of the people, not Trump. He is not a king in Colombia; we do not accept kings here, period,” Petro vented.
“In the 21st century, some believe they can become kings and viceroys, but in republics, it is not possible,” he later said. “Here, the heads of kings are cut off if they come with a king’s attitude.”
A feud between the two world leaders has been simmering since the Trump administration’s September strike on the alleged drug boat.
Trump said the attack killed “confirmed narcoterrorists from Venezuela” who were in international waters at the time.
Petro, however, claimed that the boat was a Colombian vessel and was used for fishing and not the transportation of drugs.
Petro accused the US government of murder after a strike on a boat allegedly carrying drugs. Univision“US government officials have committed a murder and violated our sovereignty in territorial waters,” Petro wrote on X. “The Colombian boat was adrift and had its distress signal up due to an engine failure.
“We await explanations from the US government.”
A CNN report later claimed that another one of Trump’s recent strikes in the Caribbean had killed Colombian nationals, citing Pentagon officials.
Trump on Sunday blasted his Colombian counterpart as a “very unpopular leader, with a fresh mouth toward America” and “an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs.”
A protester burns a US flag near the entrance of the US Embassy during a protest demanding action from President Gustavo Petro’s government on October 17. APIn addition to cutting off foreign aid to Colombia, Trump threatened to ratchet up tariffs on Bogotá, which currently pays the baseline 10% rate.
The US has sent more than $207 million worth of foreign aid to Colombia this year, according to the State Department’s foreign assistance tracking website.
Trump has authorized at least seven known strikes against alleged drug boats in the region, primarily targeted at vessels believed to have links to Venezuela. The move has caused unease among both Democrats in Congress and some Republicans, such as Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.)
Petro’s screed against Trump drew concern from Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), who sits on the House Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees.
“In an interview with [Univision Noticias], Colombia’s narcoterrorist-in-chief, Gustavo Petro, has just threatened to ‘overthrow’ President Trump,” Gimenez warned on X. “Petro threats must be taken seriously, he is a genuine threat to the safety & security of our hemisphere.” –






