Colombian President Petro faces backlash over 'Heil Hitler' tweet and Nazi comparisons

Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ignited international outrage following a tweet containing the phrase "Heil Hitler." This incident follows a pattern of Petro using Nazi comparisons to criticize Israeli actions in Gaza, which he has equated with Nazi war crimes, and labeling Israel's far-right police minister as a "true Nazi."

The controversial tweet was directed at columnist Felipe Zuleta, who had expressed support for a right-wing candidate in Colombia's ongoing election campaign. Petro claimed Zuleta's stance represented a departure from liberalism and embraced "fascist" ideologies, specifically mentioning the need for order, authority, and economic freedom in Colombia. Ironically, Zuleta later revealed that the text of his column was generated by the AI program Gemini, which he transparently disclosed.

Petro's use of the "Heil Hitler" salute has been widely condemned. Israel's Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, urged Petro to apologize, calling the use of Nazi slogans a "disgraceful low point" and emphasizing that certain boundaries should not be crossed, regardless of personal circumstances.

During a UN Security Council session where Colombia currently holds the presidency, Petro acknowledged that the "Heil Hitler" tweet was "stupid" and that the strong reaction surprised him. However, he continued to speak about the high death toll in Gaza, stating, "We are going back to the era of the Nazis." Ambassador Danon responded by calling Petro a delusional leader spreading antisemitic statements.

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Heil Hitler