Medellín, Colombia — Colombia’s outgoing President Gustavo Petro spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump Friday morning via phone call.
The two leaders discussed several issues, including Petro’s removal from the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list, commonly known as the Clinton List.
The conversation between the two leaders was disclosed in a statement issued by the Colombian presidency.
“Like the previous three times, it was a friendly conversation,” Petro said on his X account, referring to past conversations with Trump.
According to the statement, in response to Petro’s request to remove himself and his family members from the sanctions list, Trump responded that he “will do his best.”
“I was surprised that he did not know that my family and I were still included on the OFAC list, he promised me he would take action on the matter,” Petro said.
Petro’s name was added to the list on October 24, 2025, along with those of his former partner, Verónica Alcocer, his eldest son, Nicolás Petro, and Interior Minister Armando Benedetti.
The Department of the Treasury said Petro was designated because of his alleged role “in illicit drug trafficking.”
Days before his name was added, Trump wrote on Truth Social that Petro “is an illegal drug leader strongly encouraging the massive production of drugs…” without providing any evidence.
On the call, the two leaders also discussed drug eradication.
According to the communique, Petro requested that the U.S. government continue to support Colombia’s coca crop substitution policy, which provides benefits to peasant farmers to incentivize them to stop growing the plant which is the base ingredient for cocaine.
The substitution program is financed through December 31 of this year, according to the presidency.
He also told the U.S. president that Colombia had completed the target set by both countries to eradicate nearly 30,000 hectares of coca, with the hope to “reach 41,000 by the end of 2026.”
Perhaps tongue in cheek, Petro also added that he was surprised “that President Donald Trump didn’t know that I didn’t support Abelardo de la Espriella,” who narrowly beat Petro’s Historic Pact candidate in the second round of elections.
The U.S. president was criticized in some circles for endorsing de la Espriella ahead of elections on June 21.
Featured Image: Colombian President Gustavo Petro and U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on February 3, 2026.
Image credit: Gustavo Petro via X.
