Trump Holds ‘Very Good’ Meeting

President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he held a “very good meeting” with Colombian President Gustavo Petro during the foreign leader’s visit to the White House, signaling a noticeable thaw in what had recently been a tense relationship.

The private Oval Office meeting was closed to cameras, but Trump shared details afterward while speaking with reporters.

“We weren’t exactly the best of friends before,” Trump said when asked how the meeting went. “But we had never really met, and once we sat down, we got along very well.”

Trump said the discussion covered several major issues important to U.S. national security, including counternarcotics cooperation and potential enforcement measures.

“We’re working on that, and we’re working on some other things too,” Trump said. “That includes sanctions.”

Meeting Comes After Recent Tensions

The White House meeting came just weeks after sharp public disagreements between Washington and Bogotá following a U.S.-led operation that helped remove Venezuelan strongman Nicolás Maduro from power.

At the time, Petro strongly criticized the action and warned against U.S. involvement in Latin America. Trump, meanwhile, took a hard line on regional security and drug trafficking.

Despite those earlier disputes, both leaders struck a more diplomatic tone after meeting face to face.

Speaking later at the Colombian Embassy in Washington, Petro described the discussion with Trump as “very positive” and said it was conducted in an “optimistic and constructive” spirit.

Petro also confirmed that Trump gave him a red “Make America Great Again” hat — a symbolic moment underscoring the shift in tone between the two leaders.

Sharp Contrast With Past Rhetoric

The meeting marked a dramatic change from previous comments. Trump had previously accused Colombia’s leadership of allowing cocaine production and trafficking that fuels drug abuse in the United States.

When asked last month about possible U.S. military action in Colombia, Trump responded bluntly, “Sounds good to me.”

Petro, in turn, urged Colombians to defend national sovereignty and cautioned against foreign intervention following the Venezuela operation.

Relationship Reset After Phone Call

According to Trump, the reset began with a phone call between the two leaders ahead of the White House visit.

“It was a great honor to speak with him,” Trump said, suggesting the conversation helped pave the way for a more productive in-person meeting.

The improved dialogue signals a possible shift in U.S.-Colombia relations as the Trump administration continues to emphasize border security, drug enforcement, and American interests abroad.