In Defense of Trump’s Colombia Gambit – Because Sometimes Tough Love is Necessary

They say you can’t fix stupid, but President Trump might be giving it the old college try. In a move that should surprise absolutely no one, Trump responded to Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s reckless antics with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer. And, frankly, good for him. Because if Petro’s recent behavior is anything to go by, Colombia is desperately in need of a wake-up call—and Trump is just the man to deliver it.

Let’s start with the basics. Petro, clearly on some ideological vision quest, decided it was a bright idea to refuse Colombian deportees from the U.S. But he didn’t stop there. Oh no, he went full tilt and demanded that 15,000 “undocumented Americans” in Colombia report to immigration authorities. Now, that’s rich—Petro, the self-proclaimed man of the people, playing hardball with U.S. citizens. If he were looking to provoke Trump, mission accomplished.

Trump’s response? Classic Trump. The visa section in Bogotá is shuttered. Colombian deportees? Not landing in Colombia anytime soon. And in case anyone thought Trump wasn’t serious, he slapped a 25% tariff on Colombian goods—with plans to crank it up to 50%. That’s not tough love; that’s a full-on intervention.

Here’s the thing, though: Petro isn’t just poking the bear. He’s dancing on a geopolitical tightrope over a canyon filled with economic doom. And, true to form, he’s doing it blindfolded. The video transcript outlining this mess couldn’t be clearer: Colombia’s economy is now teetering, its international reputation is in the gutter, and the Petro administration is showing all the competence of a toddler with a pair of scissors.

And just when you think Petro couldn’t outdo himself in absurdity, he announces perhaps his most bizarre move yet. After Trump’s measures against Colombian exports and officials, Petro offered the Colombian presidential aircraft to bring deported Colombians back to their homeland under “humane” conditions. Yes, you read that correctly. The same man who, 6 hours earlier, outright refused to accept these deported nationals, suddenly thinks a grand gesture with a presidential plane will solve the problem. This isn’t leadership; it’s a performance so bizarre it could be a plotline in a bad political satire, as former Medellin major and presidential candidate, Sergio Fajardo, rightly denounced in X.

But let’s not forget the real victims here: the Colombian people. They’re the ones who will bear the brunt of Petro’s blunders. Thanks to his hubris, businesses are on the brink, trade with the U.S. is in tatters, and visa restrictions are hitting families and students. Petro’s antics aren’t just dangerous; they’re cruelly indifferent to the lives of everyday Colombians.

Now, critics will say Trump’s response is over-the-top. To which I say: Have you met Donald Trump? The man doesn’t do half-measures. You don’t negotiate with a loose cannon like Petro by offering tea and crumpets. You draw a line, plant your flag, and remind him who he’s dealing with.

The truth is, this crisis says more about Petro than it does about Trump. Petro is playing a dangerous game, one that threatens to turn Colombia into another failed state in a region already grappling with authoritarianism and narco-politics. Trump’s actions may seem harsh, but sometimes harsh is what’s needed to prevent a train wreck.

So here’s to Trump, the bulldozer of diplomacy. Petro may be content to let ideology drive his country off a cliff, but at least someone is willing to slam on the brakes. And if a few egos get bruised along the way, so be it. History will remember who tried to steer Colombia back from the edge—and who danced in the flames.