Colombia's Petro accuses Trump of intervening in his country's election

Politics Colombia's outgoing president Gustavo Petro accuses Trump of intervening in his country's election By Lilia Luciano Lilia Luciano Anchor and Correspondent, "CBS News 24/7" Lilia Luciano is an award-winning journalist and CBS News 24/7 anchor and correspondent based in New York City. Luciano is the recipient of multiple journalism awards, including a Walter Cronkite Award, a regional Edward R. Murrow Award and five regional Emmys. Read Full Bio Lilia Luciano June 5, 2026 / 7:27 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google In less than two weeks, Colombians will head to the polls in a runoff election to choose between a far-right outsider endorsed by President Trump, and a far-left senator who promises to deepen current President Gustavo Petro's policies and legacy.Days after far-right candidate Abelardo de la Espriella finished first in Sunday's vote with 43.7% of the vote, followed by leftist Iván Cepeda with 40.9%, Petro sat down with CBS News to discuss his alternative approach to the war on drugs.Petro defended his record on the cultivation of coca, the base material for cocaine. He called Mr. Trump's endorsement of his opponent an act of interference and accused Washington of abandoning anti-drug mission cooperation for ideological reasons. Petro warned that if the right comes to power, Colombia will see a wave of political violence.Human rights groups have found that under the Petro Administration, the membership, territorial control and violent power of organized crime groups have flourished. Petro calls out Trump on political "intervention"Mr. Trump weighed in on Colombia's election after De la Espriella won the first round. In a social media post, he gave de la Espriella his "Complete and Total Endorsement," and warned that "The results of this Election are very important to the future of Colombia and its relationship to the United States.""Our republics were founded on the principles of freedom and sovereignty," Petro said, claimi...