Donald Trump accused of being 'white slaver' by Colombia president after trade row
Donald Trump accused of being 'white slaver' by Colombia president after trade row
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Colombian President Gustavo Petro launched a searing attack on Donald Trump, accusing him of being a “white slaveholder” who is “on track to wipe out the human species”. His statement marked a dramatic escalation in tensions between the two leaders, whose relationship deteriorated over a standoff involving US deportation flights and threats of economic retaliation.
“You don’t like our freedom, okay. I don’t shake hands with white slavers,” Petro said of Trump. “Overthrow me, President, and the Americas and humanity will respond... You can try to carry out a coup with your economic strength and your arrogance.”.
He added: "Your blockade does not scare me, because Colombia, besides being the country of beauty, is the heart of the world.”. The remarks were the latest in a war of words that initially saw the South American country refuse to accept US military flights deporting Colombian nationals, a decision that drew Trump’s anger.
In retaliation, the US president threatened a trade war hitting the country with 25 per cent tariffs and visa restrictions. Petro at first said Colombia would retaliate by imposing levies on American goods, but the White House later announced that Colombia had agreed to accept migrants - including those arriving on US military aircraft - "without limitation or delay".
