Trump Grows Closer To South American Voters

Senator Bernie Moreno (R-OH) is returning to his native Colombia this week — and he’s bringing a bold America First agenda with him. The first Latino senator from Ohio, Moreno rose to power last year in a historic, Trump-endorsed victory that toppled a Democrat incumbent and sent shockwaves through Washington.

Now, on a high-stakes three-nation tour of Latin America, Moreno is warning that socialist regimes, drug cartels, and Chinese expansion threaten both U.S. security and the stability of our closest allies.

Born in Colombia, Fighting for America

Born in Bogotá, Moreno built his life in the United States, achieving the American dream as a luxury car dealer before defeating Democrat Sherrod Brown in the most expensive Senate race in U.S. history — a staggering $441 million in political spending. With Vice President JD Vance leaving the Senate, Moreno became Ohio’s senior senator on his first day in office.

From the start, Moreno has stood shoulder-to-shoulder with President Donald Trump, taking on the D.C. establishment with unapologetic America First policies. In Colombia, he plans to confront left-wing President Gustavo Petro directly, warning that U.S. sanctions, higher tariffs, or other measures may be necessary to restore stability.

“The purpose of this trip is to understand all the dynamics before any decision is made,” Moreno said. “Nothing is off the table.”

Blasting Colombia’s Left-Wing Government

Moreno condemned the recent conviction of former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe — a conservative hero credited with defeating guerrilla violence — calling it an attempt to “silence” a national savior. At the same time, record-high cocaine production threatens both U.S. safety and Colombia’s future, risking its certification as a reliable partner in the war on drugs.

Moreno warned: “We want Colombia to be strong, healthy, prosperous, and secure. The question is, how do we get there?”

Taking the Fight to Mexico Over Fentanyl

The trip begins in Mexico City, where Moreno will meet with President Claudia Sheinbaum and newly confirmed DEA Chief Terrance Cole. While Moreno credited Sheinbaum with doing more to combat fentanyl than her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, he insists more is needed — including restoring DEA wiretap operations and returning U.S. aircraft grounded under the previous administration.

“Mexico can’t defeat the cartels alone,” Moreno said. “Only by working with the United States can this battle be won.”

Standing Up to China in the Panama Canal

From Mexico, Moreno travels to Panama to inspect the U.S.-built Panama Canal with Trump’s newly appointed ambassador Kevin Marino Cabrera. Moreno issued a sharp warning against Chinese state-linked companies gaining control of ports at both ends of the canal.

“Cosco is the Chinese Communist Party in all but name,” Moreno said. “They cannot be allowed to control critical infrastructure.”

Defending America’s Strongest Ally in South America

In the final leg of the tour, Moreno will be joined by Democrat Sen. Ruben Gallego in a rare bipartisan push to protect America’s longstanding alliance with Colombia. But deep political polarization in both countries, combined with a dangerous surge in drug production, threatens to undo decades of cooperation.

With Colombia’s presidential election just months away and socialist influences growing across the region, Moreno is positioning himself as one of the strongest pro-Trump voices in foreign policy — even though he’s not on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Michael Shifter, former president of the Inter-American Dialogue in Washington, described Moreno as “among the Senate’s staunchest allies of President Trump” and noted that his personal and professional background could give him significant sway over U.S. policy toward Latin America.