Trump Confirms Tariffs on Colombia, Calls Gustavo Petro a 'Lunatic' and 'The Worst President in Their History'

President Donald Trump confirmed night that his administration will impose tariffs on Colombian exports and cut financial assistance to the country, escalating tensions with one of Washington's closest regional partners.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on his return to Washington from Mar-a-Lago, Trump said he would formally announce the new trade measures on Monday. He then accused Colombia of failing to combat drug production, calling the country "a drug manufacturing machine" and asserting that it "has the worst president they've ever had." "He's a lunatic."

Earlier, Trump labeled Petro "a drug-trafficking leader" who encourages mass coca cultivation and "does nothing to stop it despite large-scale U.S. payments and subsidies." He said those transfers would end immediately, writing, "As of today, these payments, or any other form of payment or subsidy, will no longer be made to Colombia."

The remarks follow months of friction between Washington and Bogotá over U.S. strikes on alleged drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Friday that a U.S. operation destroyed a boat linked to Colombia's National Liberation Army (ELN), though he provided no evidence. The Colombian government has disputed those claims, saying the vessel carried civilians.

Petro responded on social media, rejecting Trump's accusations and defending his government's anti-narcotics policies. "Trying to promote peace in Colombia is not being a drug trafficker," he wrote, calling Trump "rude and ignorant toward Colombia" and asserting that he is "the main enemy of drugs" in his country.

Colombia's Foreign Ministry condemned Trump's remarks as "a direct threat to national sovereignty," while Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez said Colombian forces "have used all their capability and lost men and women fighting drug trafficking."

Last week Petro criticized the United States after another American strike killed six people in the Caribbean, saying the action violated a recent UN Human Rights Commission resolution introduced by Colombia. He argued that the U.S. campaign "is not a war against smuggling, but a war for oil," and urged the case be brought before the UN Security Council and General Assembly. The White House dismissed Petro's accusations as "baseless and reprehensible," saying it expects the Colombian leader to retract his comments.