Trump's Endorsement
Trump acknowledges De la Espriella's election win, praising far-right Colombian leader's compliments.
U.S. President Donald Trump has recognized Abelardo de la Espriella as Colombia's president-elect for a second time, doubling down on his support after the right-wing candidate led Colombia's presidential runoff by roughly 251,856 votes — a margin of just 0.96% — according to a pre-count with 99.45% of tables reported, according to El Periódico.
Speaking from the Oval Office on June 22, Trump explained his backing with characteristic bluntness: "When someone like me is liked by a person, I like that person. It's a simple formula." He called De la Espriella a "good man" and "The Tiger," one day after posting on Truth Social: "He won, BIG!"
A Razor-Thin Result Sets Off an Immediate Dispute
Polls closed across Colombia on June 21 at 4:00 PM. By 7:00 PM, Colombia's National Registry released a pre-count showing De la Espriella with 12,951,856 votes (49.66%) against Iván Cepeda's 12.7 million (48.70%). The margin was just under one percentage point. The pre-count is not the official final result — a full count called the *escrutinio* is still underway.
Outgoing President Gustavo Petro refused to recognize the pre-count the same night, citing "many irregularities" and calling for challenges to tables that lacked jury signatures. Cepeda has also refused to concede. Protests broke out in Bogotá and Cali, with reports of property damage, raising fears about what comes next.
Trump Calls De la Espriella Before Any Official Result
At 10:45 PM on June 21, Trump posted his endorsement on Truth Social and called De la Espriella directly to offer "support and recognition." The next morning, he confirmed the call in the Oval Office. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio followed up on June 22, speaking with De la Espriella about "regional security, ending illegal immigration, and strengthening economic ties," according to El Correo Web.
Analysts say Trump's early recognition is a move to lock in the outcome before Colombia's official count can be contested. The Colombian peso steadied after weeks of volatility as markets priced in a return to pro-business policies under De la Espriella.
Who Is De la Espriella — and What Will He Change?
De la Espriella is a well-known trial lawyer with no prior political office. He ran on a "Law and Order" platform and is often compared to El Salvador's Nayib Bukele and Argentina's Javier Milei. On election night, he declared himself "President-elect" from Barranquilla, telling opponents: "Pack your bags... you already know how fiercely the tiger roars," according to El Periódico de Aragón.
His agenda marks a sharp turn from Petro's policies. He has pledged to move Colombia's embassy to Jerusalem, restore aerial glyphosate spraying on coca crops, and build large prisons for gang members and armed group fighters. Under Petro, U.S.-Colombia relations hit a low point in 2025 when Washington canceled Petro's visa and imposed Treasury sanctions.
The Result Is Not Final — and the Stakes Are High
The official count by Colombia's National Electoral Council (CNE) is not yet done. De la Espriella won big in Antioquia and among Colombian diaspora in the U.S. Cepeda won in Spain and in Bogotá. The geographic split and the narrow national margin mean any shift in the official numbers could trigger a major crisis, according to Diario Córdoba.
Trump issued three separate endorsements of De la Espriella during the campaign, framing the race as a choice between "a strong leader" and "radical Marxism." Petro has accused the U.S. of interference. With protests in the streets and the count still open, the situation in Colombia remains unsettled — despite Washington's certainty about who won, according to El Correo Gallego.
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