Trump administration revokes Colombian president’s visa
The U.S. State Department revoked Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visa after he publicly called on American soldiers to disobey orders during a pro-palestinian protest in New York City. Petro urged U.S. troops not to follow President Donald Trump’s commands, which led to swift backlash from Republican officials who accused petro of inciting violence and even suggesting a coup against the president. Following the visa revocation, Petro expressed anger, defending his right to free speech and highlighting his concern over civilian casualties in Gaza. Petro, who was attending a United Nations meeting in New York, has European citizenship, which may affect his travel restrictions to the U.S. The incident adds to heightened tensions between the U.S. and Latin American leaders critical of American policies in the region.
Trump administration revokes Colombian president’s visa over pro-Palestinian protest
The State Department revoked Colombian President Gustavo Petro’s visa on Friday after he called on American soldiers to disobey orders during a pro-Palestinian protest on U.S. soil.
President Donald Trump’s administration has revoked immigration papers for pro-Palestinian protesters in past months, but none close to Petro’s standing fame.
“Earlier today, Colombian president @petrogustavo stood on a NYC street and urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence. We will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions,” the State Department wrote on X late Friday.
Petro said in a protest near Times Square in New York City on Friday that soldiers in the United States should “disobey” Trump’s orders.
“That is why, from here in New York, I ask all soldiers in the United States army not to point their rifles at humanity. Disobey Trump’s order! Obey the order of humanity!” Petro said.
“His comments drew an initial backlash from Republicans before his visa was revoked. Is @petrogustavo, as a guest of OUR COUNTRY, seriously calling for a coup against @POTUS?! Enough is enough. Get Petro & his communist thugs the hell out,” Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) wrote on X.
Another Florida congressman, Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL), accused Petro of “inciting violence” in the United States and said he “has no place” in the U.S.
Colombian media reported that Petro was already on his way back to Bogota from New York City on Friday night.
On Saturday morning, Petro responded to his visa revocation with anger. “We cannot allow babies to be killed in Gaza. Your wife, Mr. Trump, or your daughters, should tell you that it is not right to kill babies. My daughters tell me so,” he wrote in a post on X.
“Now they will try to turn my free and human opinion into a crime. You know that international laws grant me immunity to go to the UN and that there should be no reprisals for my free opinion, because I am a free being,” he added.
The Colombian leader was in New York for the United Nations meeting. He spoke at the meeting on Tuesday, slamming the U.S. for its strikes on alleged drug boats in the Caribbean. Petro said “poor young people” died in the strikes.
The administration has deployed warships off the coast of Venezuela to deter drug trafficking, but the move raised tensions in the region. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, often referred to as a dictator, blasted the deployment.
“In the face of this maximum military pressure, we have declared maximum preparedness for the defense of Venezuela,” Maduro said of the deployment, which he said was “an extravagant, unjustifiable, immoral and absolutely criminal and bloody threat.”
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Petro noted that he didn’t care about the punishment. He’s also a European citizen, which means he does not need a visa to travel to the U.S.
It’s unclear if Petro will be barred from coming into the country anyway.
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