Trump says Colombian President Petro should 'watch his ass' after Maduro capture

"The Government of Colombia rejects the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America. Internal conflicts between peoples are resolved by those same peoples in peace," Petro says

Published: January 3, 2026 2:05pm

Updated: January 3, 2026 2:11pm

President Trump said on Saturday that Colombian President Gustavo Petro should "watch his ass" after the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro.

"He's making cocaine. They're sending it into the United States, so he does have to watch his ass," Trump said at a news conference.

Petro criticized the U.S. military operation that led to Maduro's capture in Venezuela, which borders Colombia.

"The Government of Colombia rejects the aggression against the sovereignty of Venezuela and of Latin America. Internal conflicts between peoples are resolved by those same peoples in peace," he said. "That is the principle of the self-determination of peoples, which forms the foundation of the United Nations system."

Petro has tangled with Trump in the past on immigration issues.

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