Trump calls Petro 'good man,' pledges to help remove him from OFAC list

U.S. President Donald Trump described his Colombian counterpart Gustavo Petro as a "good man" and promised to do his utmost to remove him from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) sanctions list. The commitment came during a phone call where the two leaders discussed the continuation of anti-drug cooperation.

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Once I was able to meet him, I was able to understand that you are a good man.

According to a statement from the Colombian Presidency, Petro also requested Trump's support in exiting the OFAC list, which he was placed on last year by the U.S. Treasury Department. Petro expressed surprise that Trump was unaware he did not support the president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella and that he and his family remained on the OFAC list. Trump reportedly promised to address the issue.

The conversation also covered Colombia's advancements in its voluntary illicit crop substitution program. The Colombian government reported meeting its target of eradicating approximately 30,000 hectares and aims to reach 41,000 by year's end. Petro urged continued U.S. support for this program under the upcoming De la Espriella administration, as current funding concludes at the end of the year.

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I was surprised that President Donald Trump did not know that I did not support (president-elect) Abelardo de la Espriella and I was surprised that he did not know that I and my family were still included in the OFAC list, he promised to act on the matter.

Petro also appealed to Trump for assistance in preventing societal hatred in Colombia from leading to violence, noting their discussion on rising regional polarization. This call marks a shift in tone from Trump's previous remarks, where he stated he did not like Petro "at all" and had supported De la Espriella's candidacy.

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to prevent the hatred created in a part of Colombian society from leading to blood and violence from those who instigate and finance them