Former U.S. President Donald Trump publicly supported Colombia's conservative candidate Abelardo de la Espriella on Tuesday, just weeks before the June 21 runoff that will decide the nation’s next president. The endorsement arrives as incumbent left‑wing President Gustavo Petro prepares to leave office in early August, and it has sparked a sharp rebuttal from Petro and his supporters.

Trump backs Abelardo de la Espriella ahead of June 21 runoff

According to the source report, Trump praised de la Espriella as someone who would be “tremendously successful” in delivering economic growth, job creation,trade,and stricter immigration controls. he also labeled de la Espriella’s opponent, far‑left Senator Iván Cepeda of the Historic Pact coalition, a “Radical Left Marxist.” The former president’s remarks echo his longstanding criticism of leftist governments in Latin America.

De la Espriella trails Iván Cepeda by 2.84 points in first round

In the first round of voting, de la Espriella captured 43.74 percent of the vote while Cepeda secured 40.90 percent, leaving a margin of just 2.84 percentage points between them. the narrow gap means the runoff will be decided by a relatively small swing of undecided voters, many of whom are likely to be influenced by high‑profile endorsements such as Trump’s.

Petro warns against foreign influence after Trump endorsement

President Gustavo Petro responded by urging Colombians to “vote freely” and warned that extrnal meddling could turn the country into “a slave or a colony of anyone.” He invoked historic anti‑colonial sentiment, recalling the fight for independence led by Simón Bolívar and Francisco de Paz y Nariño. Petro’s statement underscores the political volatility surrounding foreign involvement in domestic elections.

Unverified claim about Florida voting strategy

The source notes that Petro previously caled on Colombians living in Florida to “vote Democrat and gain political independence in Florida” to make the Colombian vote “valuable.” No independent verification of this outreach has been provided, and it remains unclear how many expatriates were actually mobilized by the appeal.

What remains unclear about Trump’s involvement

Two specific questions linger: first, whether Trump’s endorsement will translate into measurable voter shifts in Colombia’s diaspora communities; second, how the Colombian electoral authority will address any formal complaints about foreign interference. According to the report, no official complaint has yet been filed, but the issue is likely to surface as the runoff approaches.