Oh, look, another “strongman” leader trying to play games with the United States—only to get absolutely outmaneuvered by President Trump.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro, a former Marxist terrorist (yes, you read that correctly), thought he could block U.S. deportation flights carrying Colombian criminals and get away with it. Spoiler alert: he couldn’t. In classic Trump fashion, the president didn’t just call his bluff—he turned it into a masterclass on what happens when you try to double-cross America.
Here’s the backstory: Two U.S. flights were set to deport illegal aliens with criminal records back to Colombia, as per usual protocol. Petro, who apparently decided to flex his anti-American muscles for a hot minute, revoked authorization for the flights while they were already in the air. Classy move, right? But before Petro could finish patting himself on the back, Trump dropped the hammer—and it was glorious.
Within minutes of the news breaking, Trump announced a series of devastating measures against Colombia, and let’s just say Petro folded faster than a cheap lawn chair. The new tariffs? A crippling 25% on all Colombian imports is set to double to 50% in just one week. A travel ban? Oh, yes, complete with immediate visa revocations for Colombian government officials and their cronies. Visa sanctions on party members and their families? Check. Enhanced customs inspections? Yep. And just to twist the knife a little deeper, full-blown financial sanctions under IEEPA (that’s the International Emergency Economic Powers Act for the uninitiated). In other words, Petro’s “tough stance” lasted about as long as a lukewarm cup of coffee.
When Trump first announced the tariffs, libs went bonkers.
To “punish” Colombia, Trump is about to make every American pay even more for coffee.
Remember: *WE* pay the tariffs, not Colombia.
Trump is all about making inflation WORSE for working class Americans, not better. He’s lining the pockets of himself and the billionaire class. https://t.co/gcAomtzmCb
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 26, 2025
Life comes at you fast pic.twitter.com/SJKSIy5Rht
— Bonchie (@bonchieredstate) January 26, 2025
Here’s the kicker: Petro’s government scrambled to reverse course almost immediately. Suddenly, the Colombian government was all about ensuring the “dignified return” of their deported “compatriots.” Oh, really? This is the same president who was perfectly fine with letting his country’s criminals roam freely in the U.S. until Trump called him out. The sudden concern for “decent conditions” is as transparent as it is laughable. Let’s be honest—Petro only caved because Trump hit him where it hurts: the wallet.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio didn’t mince words, either. “It is the responsibility of each nation to take back their citizens who are illegally present in the United States in a serious and expeditious manner,” he said. Translation: play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Rubio also noted that Petro had previously authorized the flights before yanking the rug out at the last minute. Not exactly a great way to build trust with your largest trading partner, huh?
President Trump has made it clear that under his administration, America will no longer be lied to nor taken advantage of. It is the responsibility of each nation to take back their citizens who are illegally present in the United States in a serious and expeditious manner.…
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@secrubio) January 26, 2025
What’s even more satisfying is the broader message this sends. For far too long, countries like Colombia have taken advantage of American goodwill, refusing to take back their citizens while dumping their problems onto U.S. taxpayers. Not anymore. Trump made it crystal clear that this nonsense won’t be tolerated under his watch. “We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of the criminals they forced into the United States,” he said. That’s leadership, folks—plain and simple.
Let’s not forget the numbers here. According to the Pew Research Center, there are approximately 200,000 illegal aliens from Colombia living in the U.S. How many of them have criminal records? Too many. How many are contributing to the already overburdened immigration system? All of them. The American people are tired of footing the bill for other countries’ failures, and Trump is giving them exactly what they’ve been asking for: accountability.
Petro tried to play hardball and got steamrolled. It’s a perfect example of why Trump’s “America First” policies resonate with so many people. While Biden let countries like Colombia walk all over us, Trump is putting his foot down and reminding the world that America isn’t a doormat. So, welcome back to the era of accountability, Petro. Something tells me you won’t be pulling a stunt like this again anytime soon.