Colombia's Petro says 'fascism in White House clouds reason' amid US sanctions
Colombian President Gustavo Petro has slammed the United States over the prevalent "fascism in the White House" amid escalating tensions between Bogota and Washington.
"Fascism in the White House clouds reason and sows the rise of the irrational throughout the world," Petro wrote on X on Sunday.
He criticized the US government for sending arms to belligerent regimes, delivering "money and missiles to barbarism as a method of domination."
The remarks came after Petro was placed on the US Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list.
"The inclusion of my name and my family members on the OFAC list is an attempt to pressure me and force me into submission," Petro wrote on X in January 2026.
"Colombia is a free country and not a colony of any state."
Petro rejected the US pressure, saying Washington was trying to silence him.
"I am on the OFAC list because of what I said in New York," he told the media in Washington in February 2026. "If there were legal evidence, I would not be speaking here."
"This is an attempt to silence me and force me to obey US President Donald Trump," he said. "Colombia recognizes neither kings nor viceroys and will not be silenced. Freedom of expression is the essence of freedom, while silence is a form of servitude."
Verbal hostilities intensified between Bogota and Washington after Trump announced his "total support" for far-right Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo De la Espriella, according to Prensa Latina.
Petro slammed Washington's backing of the far-right candidate as interference, pointing out that the US meddling in internal affairs fuels tensions in the country.
Petro asserted that Colombians are free to the point of "fury." "We are free to the extreme, and we love freedom so much that we would pay a high price for it out of pride or revenge. Colombians are free to the point of fury."
"The Colombian people possess a bold, individual spirit and a deep love for freedom," he said.
Regarding the Israeli forces genocide of defenseless Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, Petro has repeatedly condemned the United States and European countries support for Israel's war on Gaza.
Colombian president blasts Trump for backing 'narco-traffickers' to succeed him
‘Yankees go home’: Colombian protesters decry Trump’s military threats
After US aggression against Venezuela, Mexico could be next: Report
Twelve Amirkabir University professors named among world’s top 1% highly cited researchers
Iran announces suspension of operations after ‘painful response’ to Zionist regime
Inside the Lamerd carnage: How new US PrSM missiles were tested on children during 40-day war
VIDEO | Karachi marks passing anniversary of Imam Khomeini with tribute to resistance legacy
VIDEO | Israel turns wedding into funeral in Gaza
VIDEO | New Israeli barrier, settler attacks put Jordan valley communities at risk
VIDEO | Gaza’s silent climate crisis: War leaves 33.2 million tons of carbon emissions
Iran says US bears responsibility for regional escalation
PressTV NEWSLETTER
now
This makes it easy to access the Press TV website
