Trump confirms he will impose new tariffs on Colombia for cooperating with drug traffickers and calls Gustavo Petro a 'lunatic'

In an escalation of diplomatic tensions, President Donald Trump confirmed in statements to the press that he will impose new tariffs on Colombia, while describing Colombian President Gustavo Petro as a “lunatic,” after linking him to drug trafficking and ordering the immediate cessation of all U.S. subsidies and payments to Colombia, arguing that the South American country has made drug trafficking its “biggest business” without taking adequate measures to combat it.

In this regard, after being asked by the press about the South American country, Trump confirmed the tariff measures and said he would announce them on Monday. He also pointed out that Colombia: "They make tremendous amounts of cocaine and they send it all over the world and they destroy families. No, Columbia is out of control. Now they have the worst president they've ever had. He's a lunatic."

Trump's statements come amid an exchange of mutual accusations over the Republican's military actions in the Caribbean in his fight against drug trafficking and the persistent flow of cocaine into the United States.

Previously, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham had outlined the president's plan in a post on his X account, where he detailed a recent conversation with the president.

Graham stated that Trump planned to impose “major tariffs” on Colombia as part of a broader strategy to combat drug trafficking affecting the United States.

Along the same lines, the senator praised Trump's toughness, describing him as "tougher than any other president" in the face of threats against his country, and warned that "those involved in drug trafficking "will pay a very high price."

Graham emphasized: "One thing I've learned about President Donald Trump, and the World is quickly learning, when it comes to protecting the United States of America, he doesn't 'PLAY GAMES,'" he said.