{"id":2608873,"date":"2026-05-31T23:15:02","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T03:15:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pro-trump-candidate-proceeds-to-runoff-in-colombian-presidential-election\/"},"modified":"2026-05-31T23:16:51","modified_gmt":"2026-06-01T03:16:51","slug":"pro-trump-candidate-proceeds-to-runoff-in-colombian-presidential-election","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/pro-trump-candidate-proceeds-to-runoff-in-colombian-presidential-election\/","title":{"rendered":"Pro-Trump candidate proceeds to runoff in Colombian presidential election"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpro-trump-candidate-proceeds-to-runoff-in-colombian-presidential-election%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2608873&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Abelardo de la Espriella, a pro-Trump <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/married-men-veterans-helped-propel-biden-to-victory-data-show\/\" title=\"Married Men, Veterans Helped Propel Biden To Victory, Data Show\">conservative candidate<\/a> in Colombia, advanced to a runoff in the presidential election after winning nearly 44% of the vote in sunday\u2019s first round. His opponent, Ivan Cepeda, a senator from outgoing President Gustavo Petro\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/israeli-right-wing-politician-files-criminal-complaint-against-facebook-alleges-wire-tapping-after-wifes-whatsapp-account-blocked\/\" title=\"Israeli Right-Wing Politician Files Criminal Complaint Against Facebook, Alleges Wire-Tapping After Wife\u2019s WhatsApp Account Blocked\">left-wing party<\/a>, placed second with about 41%.<\/p>\n<p>Both Cepeda and Petro questioned the results late Sunday,citing claims-without evidence-that large vote totals were manipulated and that foreign actors influenced the outcome. With no candidate winning a majority, the election is set to be decided in a runoff on June 21.<\/p>\n<p>Espriella is running on a tough law-and-order platform focused on cracking down on crime and has been nicknamed \u201cEl Tigre.\u201d He has previously drawn comparisons to Nayib Bukele and said he wants U.S. and democratic parties to monitor the runoff, portraying himself as Colombia\u2019s \u201cbest warrior.\u201d He has no prior political experience.<\/p>\n<p>The article also notes that U.S. President Donald Trump met with Petro at the White House in February, despite earlier tensions over tariffs, deportations, and attacks on alleged drug smugglers, and that Trump later said they \u201cgot along great.\u201d  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pro-Trump candidate Abelardo de la Espriella advanced to a runoff in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/url?q=https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/colombia\/&#038;sa=D&#038;source=docs&#038;ust=1780281768750856&#038;usg=AOvVaw2eMEsR-s5Ca7N10PRDtD6L\">Colombia\u2019s<\/a> presidential <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/elections\/\">election<\/a> Sunday afternoon, according to preliminary official results. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Espriella, a supporter of President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> who has drawn comparisons to Salvadoran President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/nayib-bukele\/\">Nayib Bukele<\/a>, received almost 44% of the vote in the first round of voting held Sunday.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4586112\/lithuania-russia-economy-built-war-baltic-states-next\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Lithuania warns Russian economy is \u2018built on war\u2019 and Baltic states are likely next target<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4588093\/us-iran-messaging-battle-peace\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>US and Iran take widely different approaches in messaging battle around peace<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4587424\/poland-karol-nawrocki-strip-zelensky-top-state-honor\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Polish president moves to strip Zelensky of top state honor<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Espriella\u2019s opponent, Ivan Cepeda, is a senator from outgoing Colombian President Gustavo Petro\u2019s left-wing party. He won about 41% of the vote. <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cepeda and Petro cast doubt on the election results later Sunday night, with both claiming \u201cwithout evidence that hundreds of thousands of votes were manipulated and that foreign actors manipulated the results of the election,\u201d according to the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/colombia-president-election-petro-trump-c8b2170044646266ccdfce0e8bfb1bfb\"><em>Associated Press<\/em><\/a>. Since neither candidate received an outright majority of the vote, the election proceeds to a runoff on June 21.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The positive result for Espriella is a promising sign for a hard-line, conservative candidate who has made <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reuters.com\/world\/americas\/colombia-presidential-candidate-de-la-espriella-proposes-mega-prisons-crime-2026-05-28\/\">cracking down on crime<\/a> a key priority in his campaign. He\u2019s said that Petro hasn\u2019t done enough to <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >combat criminal organizations<\/a> in Colombia and views his conservative rival, Paloma Valencia, as part of the establishment. Valencia received almost 7% of the vote.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The former lawyer and businessman, nicknamed \u201cEl Tigre,\u201d was consistently trailing in polls before promising harsher crackdowns on criminal groups. \u201cLet the United States of America and democratic parties monitor this runoff election,\u201d Espriella said in a speech Sunday night. \u201cI will be Colombia\u2019s best warrior.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Espriella has no prior political experience.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/opinion\/beltway-confidential\/4444691\/welcome-good-meeting-between-trump-colombia-gustavo-petro\/\"><strong>WELCOME THE GOOD MEETING BETWEEN TRUMP AND COLOMBIA\u2019S GUSTAVO PETRO<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Trump met with Petro in February at the White House after sparring with him over tariffs, the administration\u2019s deportation policies, and strikes against alleged drug smugglers throughout his second term.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite Petro\u2019s deep leftist ties, Trump <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/white-house\/4442669\/trump-colombia-petro-meeting\/\">ultimately said<\/a> the two \u201cgot along great\u201d at the meeting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Espriella leads in Colombia election runoff with nearly 44%<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3238,"featured_media":2608874,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26007842402967.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[15918,5894,32183,4053,9062],"class_list":["post-2608873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-colombia","tag-politics","tag-presidential-election","tag-pro-trump","tag-runoff"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP26007842402967.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3238"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2608873"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2608877,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2608873\/revisions\/2608877"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2608874"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2608873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2608873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2608873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}