In a stunning about-face, Colombia’s leftist President Gustavo Petro reportedly issued a private apology to President Donald Trump after previously launching an unhinged public tirade accusing the U.S. president and Secretary of State Marco Rubio of “plotting” to oust him from office. The walk-back marks a clear admission of overreach by Petro, whose baseless claims smacked more of political theater than diplomacy.
In a confidential letter to President Trump, Colombian President Gustavo Petro acknowledged that some of his past remarks may have been perceived as overly severe. The apology followed Petro’s public, unsubstantiated claim that Rubio had collaborated with an unnamed far-right Colombian figure in an alleged plot to remove him from office. His accusations, offered without evidence, were quickly echoed by Venezuelan socialist leader Nicolás Maduro, who also took shots at Rubio.
“My concern has always been to warn about destabilizing dynamics affecting our region, often driven by diverse actors with conflicting interests. In this context, I recognize that some of my words may have been perceived as unnecessarily harsh,” the letter reportedly read. “In the interest of dialogue, I want to say that my intention is not to close doors, but to open paths for honest and respectful conversation between our countries.”
The Colombian President, a former member of the Marxist M19 terrorist group, reportedly clarified that his remarks were not meant to personally accuse anyone or imply U.S. involvement in a supposed coup attempt without evidence. He stated that if his comments were interpreted that way, it was not his intention to directly blame any individual or unfairly question the role of the United States.