Steve Cortes, founder of the League of American Workers, has criticized Colombian President Gustavo Petro for what he described as a threat to former U.S. President Donald Trump. Cortes urged policymakers to seek a more U.S.-aligned partner in Colombia. His statement was made on the social media platform X.
“Woah,” said Cortes. “Gustavo Petro directly threatens Pres Trump, and seems to endorse violence vs. our president. Colombia needs a new leader, and America needs a real ally again in Bogota!”
According to APNews, tensions between Washington and Bogotá have intensified following Colombia’s initial refusal to accept U.S. deportation flights, leading to a broader conflict involving policy reprisals. The situation escalated through 2025 when President Trump announced new tariffs and suspended certain aid programs. In response, President Petro condemned these actions and rhetoric from the United States. Against this backdrop, Cortes reacted to Petro’s remarks about Trump by framing them as threatening and advocating for a reset in bilateral relations toward a more reliable partnership with the United States.
Forbes reported that trade measures became central to the standoff. On January 26, 2025, President Trump announced a 25% tariff on all Colombian imports, warning that it could increase to 50% if compliance on deportation flights was not met within a week. This marked an unusual escalation against a long-time hemispheric partner and put immediate pressure on Colombia’s export sectors, including coffee and industrial goods. Bogotá later agreed to accept deportations, easing immediate trade risks but leaving relations strained by ongoing threats and counter-threats.
According to APNews, trends in U.S. assistance added gravity to the clash. Historically one of Latin America’s top aid recipients, Colombia saw its U.S. assistance decrease significantly before the late-2025 crisis—from over $700 million annually to roughly $230 million in the most recent fiscal year. In October 2025, the White House announced it would suspend remaining aid while escalating trade penalties, raising concerns about security cooperation and anti-narcotics programs dependent on sustained funding and joint operations.
In an interview discussing Colombia’s political climate, Cortes referenced President Petro’s public statements criticizing the United States as “harsh anti-US antagonism.” He explained: “This harsh anti-US antagonism from the radical Petro is particularly sad for families like mine who bridge the two countries. My father was a legal immigrant to America, born and raised in Colombia, and I have many relatives there now.” This comment echoed his post on X referencing Petro’s rejection of U.S. policy and highlighted how current diplomatic strains resonate personally for Colombian-American families.
Cortes is Founder and President of League of American Workers and serves as senior political advisor to CatholicVote. He is also a former senior advisor to President Trump and JD Vance and has been a commentator for Fox News and CNN. Cortes regularly releases documentaries and columns at cortesinvestigates.com.
