Trump tones down on Colombia, invites Petro to White House after phone call

United States President Donald Trump and Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro spoke over the phone Wednesday (Jan 7) after which Trump said that he had invited the leader of the South American country to the White House for talks. Taking to Truth Social Trump wrote, “It was a Great Honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had".

“I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future," and added that the meeting will take place at the White House.

This comes after the US attacked Venezuela, captured Nicolas Maduro and his wife and later said that “Colombia is very sick too” and accused Petro of ”making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”

While aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump while speaking to reporters said, “He’s not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you.”

Petro's challenge to Trump

After Trump threatened Colombian President Gustavo Petro post the military action in Venezuela and the capture of Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Petro on Monday challenged Trump in a statement saying, "Come get me. I'm waiting for you here."

"If they [the US] bomb, the campesinos will become thousands of guerrillas in the mountains. And if they detain the president whom a large part of the country loves and respects, they will unleash the 'jaguar' of the people," he warned.

Petro, who served as a leftist guerrilla fighter in the 1990s, said, "I swore not to touch a weapon again ... but for the homeland I will take up arms again."

Trump, in a press conference following the capture of Maduro, had cautioned that Petro should "watch his a**."