Trump backs Colombian hard-right candidate as Petro rejects runoff fraud claims
Donald Trump’s endorsement of Colombian hard-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella sparks diplomatic and electoral fallout ahead of the June 21 runoff, as international observers reject fraud claims by outgoing President Gustavo Petro.
The former U.S. president threw his weight behind de la Espriella in a Truth Social post late Tuesday, hailing the 47-year-old lawyer—nicknamed *"The Tiger"*—as a "strong leader" after he secured 42.3% of the vote in Sunday’s first round, forcing a runoff against leftist Senator Iván Cepeda. De la Espriella, who has pledged to deepen ties with Washington, called Trump’s backing a "decisive moment" for Colombia’s future, according to *France24* .
The endorsement arrives amid heightened tensions over Petro’s refusal to concede, with the outgoing president alleging irregularities in the vote count—a claim dismissed by multiple international bodies. The European Union’s election observation mission, the Organization of American States (OAS), the United Nations, and Human Rights Watch all declared the first round "transparent and well-organized," with the EU mission calling it a "lesson in democracy" . Petro, however, doubled down on his accusations Tuesday, vowing to "defend the vote" in a statement to *La Vanguardia* .
Trump’s intervention marks a rare foray into Latin American politics since leaving office, aligning with de la Espriella’s nationalist platform, which includes opposition to Petro’s progressive reforms and a hardline stance on security. The Colombian candidate’s campaign has framed the runoff as a choice between "order and chaos," a narrative amplified by Trump’s social media post, which garnered over 1.2 million views within hours .
With polls showing a statistical dead heat—Cepeda leads by a razor-thin 0.8% margin in the latest *Invamer* survey—Trump’s endorsement could sway undecided voters in a country where U.S. influence remains a polarizing issue. The runoff’s outcome will determine whether Colombia continues Petro’s leftist agenda or pivots toward a Trump-aligned government, reshaping regional dynamics from trade to migration.
Trump backs Colombian hard-right candidate as Petro rejects runoff fraud claims
Colombias runoff pits far-right outsider against leftist senator after first-round upset
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Articles
Trump backs Colombian right-wing presidential outsider US President Donald Trump has congratulated right-wing candidate Abelardo de la Espriella on winning the first round of Colombias presidential election. In a post on Truth Social, Trump gave his full endorsement to the 47-year-old political outsider, nicknamed The Tiger. Because no candidate secured over 50 percent of the vote on Sunday, a second-round runoff […]
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