Colombian President Gustavo Petro made bold accusations this Friday against U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, describing him as deeply entrenched in Zionist fundamentalism and labeling him the most problematic "bubble" surrounding President Donald Trump.
Petro's remarks were made during an interview on the program 'Los Desayunos' of RTVE and EFE, held as part of the Summit for the Defense of Democracy. This event, taking place in Barcelona from April 16 to 19, gathers over a hundred progressive leaders from around the globe.
Petro's Views on Rubio
The Colombian leader expressed concern over Rubio's agenda, stating, "The most troubling agenda I saw was in Marco Rubio, engulfed in Zionist fundamentalism." Petro criticized Rubio for allegedly disregarding Latin America's diversity and confining the region to a simplistic left-right political spectrum despite his Cuban heritage.
Petro went on to assert that Rubio perceives "Fidel Castro in every one of us," highlighting sarcastically that Rubio never even met the Cuban leader, as his family left Cuba before the Revolution.
Criticism of Personal Connections
In a move filled with sarcasm, Petro referenced Rubio's wife, Jeanette Dousdebes, who hails from Colombian parents from Cali and Bogotá. "His wife is Colombian, so maybe that's something to investigate," Petro quipped, suggesting that this connection makes Rubio's stance towards Latin America all the more perplexing.
On Trump and His Administration
Turning his attention to Trump, Petro described him as someone enveloped by a myriad of people, each with their own agenda, likening it to a chaotic video game played without reason, affecting millions. He further commented that Trump is "driven by Netanyahu, not the other way around," implying that the Israeli Prime Minister holds more sway within the U.S. government than Trump himself.
Tensions with Washington
Petro also criticized certain Latin American presidents for behaving like "courtiers" to Washington, likening their actions to serving a new king after having removed the old one.
This week's statements are part of a protracted series of tensions between Bogotá and Washington. In October 2025, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned Petro, his family, and former ambassador Armando Benedetti for alleged ties to drug trafficking.
In November of the same year, Petro directly challenged Rubio, saying, "If you’re going to imprison me, let's see if you can."
The strained relations saw a partial thaw when Trump hosted Petro at the White House on February 3, 2026, for a meeting lasting over two hours. Petro recounted showing Trump a video of an assassination attempt on him in Cúcuta in 2018, aiming to counter claims of his alleged drug trafficking leadership.
Furthermore, Petro announced plans to visit Caracas on April 24 to engage with the Venezuelan government. He proposed a "co-government" period of one to two years between the current government and opposition as a precursor to free elections.
Understanding the Tensions Between Petro and Rubio
What are the main accusations made by Petro against Marco Rubio?
Petro accused Rubio of being entrenched in Zionist fundamentalism and criticized him for failing to recognize the diversity of Latin America, suggesting that Rubio sees Fidel Castro in every Latin American leader.
What led to the sanctions against Petro by the OFAC?
In October 2025, the OFAC sanctioned Petro, his family, and former ambassador Armando Benedetti due to alleged connections with drug trafficking activities.
How did Petro respond to the allegations of drug trafficking?
Petro sought to disprove these allegations by showing Trump a video of an assassination attempt he survived in 2018, arguing against the narrative of him being a drug trafficking leader.