Trump responds after Colombian leader accuses US of murder in strike on alleged drug boat Zac Anderson, USA TODAY October 20, 2025 at 4:10 AM 1 Colombia's president accused U.S.
- - Trump responds after Colombian leader accuses US of murder in strike on alleged drug boat
Zac Anderson, USA TODAY October 20, 2025 at 4:10 AM
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Colombia's president accused U.S. officials of murder in a military campaign that has targeted alleged drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea, prompting President Donald Trump to announce he is withholding aid to the nation.
"US government officials have committed a murder and violated our sovereignty in territorial waters," Colombian President Gustavo Petro wrote on social media.
The U.S. has launched military strikes on seven alleged drug trafficking vessels since September, killing at least 32. The latest strike was announced Oct. 19 by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who said it destroyed a boat "transporting substantial amounts of narcotics" and killed all three people on board. Legal experts and lawmakers from both parties have questioned the legality of the strikes.
Angela Letney, left, and Michelle Bryant participate in the "No Kings" protest against the Trump administration at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Oct. 18. From New York to San Francisco, millions of Americans are expected to hit the streets to voice their anger over President Donald Trump's policies at nationwide "No Kings" protests.
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Angela Letney, left, and Michelle Bryant participate in the "No Kings" protest against the Trump administration at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Oct. 18. From New York to San Francisco, millions of Americans are expected to hit the streets to voice their anger over President Donald Trump's policies at nationwide "No Kings" protests.
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1 / 16The most poignant, funny and outlandish signs at 'No Kings' protests against Trump
Angela Letney, left, and Michelle Bryant participate in the "No Kings" protest against the Trump administration at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem on Oct. 18. From New York to San Francisco, millions of Americans are expected to hit the streets to voice their anger over President Donald Trump's policies at nationwide "No Kings" protests.
Petro said one of the strikes killed a fisherman who "had no ties to the drug trade."
"The Colombian boat was adrift and had its distress signal up due to an engine failure," Petro added in an Oct. 18 social media post. "We await explanations from the US government."
Trump responded the next day, lashing out at Petro as a "low rated and very unpopular leader, with a fresh mouth toward America."
The president said that the U.S. is cutting off financial assistance to Colombia and warned he could go further.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro gestures as he speaks during the "Dignity and Democracy" event in Ibague, Colombia, October 3, 2025. Petro accused U.S. officials of murder in a strike on an alleged drug trafficking vessel.
Referring to illegal drug production in Colombia, Trump wrote on social media Oct. 19 that Petro "better close up these killing fields immediately, or the United States will close them up for him, and it won't be done nicely."
Petro continued to push back on Trump, saying he is "rude and ignorant toward Colombia."
Even as he feuds with Petro, Trump is sending a survivor of one of the military strikes on alleged drug vessels back to Colombia. Trump announced Oct. 18 that two people had survived a strike on a submarine heading toward the United States with illegal narcotics.
One of the survivors is being sent to Ecuador, while the other is being sent to Colombia "for detention and prosecution," the president said.
Petro has clashed with the Trump administration before. The State Department said it was revoking the Colombian president's visa after he urged U.S. soldiers to disobey Trump's orders when he spoke at a pro-Palestinian demonstration in New York City in September.
Colombia's first leftist leader, Petro accused Trump in his remarks outside the UN of being "complicit in genocide" in Gaza. He also called for "criminal proceedings" over the U.S. missile attacks on suspected drug-running boats.
The latest dispute between the two leaders highlights the risks posed by Trump's aggressive use of the military in fighting alleged drug trafficking. Lawmakers have sought to curtail the strikes.
In October, Republican senators blocked a measure pushed by Democratic Sens. Adam Schiff of California and Tim Kaine of Virginia that sought to put a check on Trump's military actions without congressional approval by halting the campaign against boats in the Caribbean.
Trump designated some drug cartels as "foreign terrorist organizations" in February, a move administration officials argue gives them legal justification for the strikes.
The president has suggested he might go further and order strikes on land to combat the flow of drugs from Venezuelan cartels.
"We are certainly looking at land now because we've got the sea very well under control," Trump told reporters Oct. 15.
This story has been to add new information.
Contributing: Joey Garrison, Cybele Mayes-Osterman
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump feuds with Colombian leader over strike on alleged drug boat
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