Colombian President Gustavo Petro dropped a political bombshell recently, claiming that huge parts of the United States, including Texas and California, are actually “invaded territory.” This incredibly aggressive assertion immediately prompted a fiery, personal reaction from President Trump, who publicly warned the Colombian leader that “he better watch his a***.”
That is definitely not the kind of reserved, diplomatic language you usually hear, but it shows just how high tensions are running between the two leaders. According to The Hill, President Trump made the comment at Mar-a-Lago just after announcing plans for building new Navy ships.
President Trump didn’t mince words about why he was so upset, focusing heavily on drug trafficking and alleged cocaine manufacturing. He stated that Petro has drug factories making cocaine in Colombia and sending it straight into the United States. While the president emphasized that he loves the Colombian people, he called their new leader a “troublemaker.” He issued a direct demand that Petro close up those cocaine factories, claiming, “There are at least three major cocaine factories. We know where they are.”
This serious accusation highlights the administration’s apparent frustration with the continuous flow of narcotics
Petro specifically said over the weekend that Texas, California, and the entire southern U.S. were invaded, not sold. He made this claim while responding to a question about the U.S. demanding that Venezuela return assets it seized in the past from U.S. oil companies. This entire situation is simmering because Petro and President Trump sit on opposite ends of the political spectrum. Petro is actually the first left-leaning leader Colombia has had in recent history.
The Colombian leader believes that the U.S. pressure campaign on Venezuela isn’t about upholding democracy or fighting drug trafficking at all. In an interview last month, Petro stated that oil is at the center of Trump’s logic and his campaign against Venezuela. He said, “So, that’s a negotiation about oil. I believe that is Trump’s logic. He’s not thinking about the democratization of Venezuela, let alone the narco-trafficking.”
It’s clear this conflict has been escalating for a while now. Tensions are already high between the U.S. and Venezuela as oil tankers continue to be seized in the Caribbean. President Trump already hit Petro and his family members with sanctions back in October.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent confirmed that the administration is taking strong action because Petro “has allowed drug cartels to flourish and refused to stop this activity.” Bessent stated that President Trump is taking this action to protect the nation and make it clear that the U.S. will not tolerate the trafficking of drugs into the country.
Published: Dec 23, 2025 01:30 pm