US revokes visa for Colombia's president after he urges American soldiers to disobey Trump

Source: Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Tensions between the United States and Colombia have escalated with the State Department announcing it was revoking a visa for Gustavo Petro, president of the Latin American country, after he participated in a New York protest where he called on American soldiers to disobey President Donald Trump's orders. The department said on social media that "we will revoke Petro's visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions."

Petro was visiting for the annual U.N. General Assembly. During a nearby protest Friday over the war in Gaza, he said "I ask all the soldiers of the United States' army, don't point your rifles against humanity" and "disobey the orders of Trump."

Petro returned to Colombia on Saturday as intended, in accordance with a Sept. 18 decree on the delegation of powers during his absence. He said on X that he found out about his visa status upon his arrival. The State Department did not answer questions about whether the revocation would affect future visits.

Petro, Colombia's first leftist president, used a post on X addressed to Trump to say that "international law grants me immunity to go to the U.N. and that there should be no reprisals for my free opinion, because I am a free person."





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