Gustavo Petro/ X
Colombian President Gustavo Petro boasted about his meeting with U.S. counterpart at the White House despite recent criticism of him.
Petro posted several pictures of the meeting on social media. One featured a binder with a signed letter from Trump reading "Gustavo - a great honor. I love Colombia," along with a picture of the two shaking hands at the Oval Office.
He also posted a black and white photo of the two sitting down and one featuring a signed copy of Trump's book "The Art of the Deal." "What did Trump mean here? I don't understand English a lot," Petro said in the publication. The signed copy reads "You are great," above Trump's signature.
¿Qué me quiso decir Trump en esta dedicatoria? No entiendo mucho el inglés pic.twitter.com/biNGKcVBu2
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) February 3, 2026
It is a departure from the tone the two heads of state had before the meeting. On Monday, Trump mocked Petro after being asked what he would want to hear from the South American president terms of drug-trafficking and relations with Venezuela, especially considering how critical he has been of the U.S.
"He has been very nice over the last month or two. He was certainly critical before that. But somehow after the Venezuelan raid he became very nice," Trump said, in reference to the operation that captured authoritarian President Nicolas Maduro.
Tensions between the two heads of state reached a tipping point in early January after the Maduro raid, with Petro saying he would be willing to take up arms to fight the U.S. and Trump warning he could be the next to be captured.
The two finally had a conversation to defuse tensions, with reports noting that the Colombian government made several security-related concessions. Spanish outlet El Pais detailed that the bombing of militia camps, fumigating coca camps with glyphosate and the extradition of drug lord Andres Felipe Marin were agreed with the U.S.
However, Petro continued with his rhetorical attacks against Trump ever since, recently calling all Colombians living in the United States, Chile and Argentina to return to their home country, arguing that migrants abroad are treated "like slaves and dogs chased through the streets."
Petro also contrasted life in the United States with Cuba, saying it was "much better to live in Cuba than in Miami." He described Miami as a city shaped by what he called an illusion of capitalism and argued that Colombians abroad often lack dignity and stability, claiming that few achieve home or car ownership.
Despite the rhetoric, Colombia has also announced it will resume receiving U.S. deportation flights. Colombia's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that there will be "about 20 flights, one per week," to bring expelled citizens and ensure they get "dignified treatment."
Related-
Trump Mocks Colombian President Petro Ahead Of White House Meeting: 'Somehow After The Venezuelan Raid He Became Very Nice'
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Colombia Resumes Reception Of U.S. Deportation Flights Ahead Of Petro's White House Visit
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Tags: Donald Trump, Gustavo Petro, Colombia, United States
