The relationship between the Trump administration and Colombia has been in the news over the past couple of days after the president’s Colombian counterpart refused to accept citizens of that country who were facing deportation from America.
Part of President Donald Trump’s strategy for resolving the impasse involved the threat of tariffs, and Colombian President Gustavo Petro ultimately gave in.
As the New York Post reported:
Petro not only acquiesced to Trump’s demands, he even offered up the official Colombian presidential plane to help shuttle migrants back to the country, calling it a response to “the Government’s commitment to guarantee decent conditions.”
“The Government of Colombia, under the direction of President Gustavo Petro, has arranged the presidential plane to facilitate the dignified return of the compatriots who were going to arrive in the country today in the morning, coming from deportation flights,” a translated official statement read in part.
In response, the Trump administration announced it will not impose sanctions and tariffs so long as Colombia follows through with its part of the deal, according to a statement from the White House press secretary late Sunday.
The outcome was much different than many of Trump’s most ardent critics predicted. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), for example, theorized that tariffs would exclusively harm Americans.
To “punish” Colombia, Trump is about to make every American pay even more for coffee.
Remember: *WE* pay the tariffs, not Colombia.
Trump is all about making inflation WORSE for working class Americans, not better. He’s lining the pockets of himself and the billionaire class. https://t.co/gcAomtzmCb
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 26, 2025
It wasn’t long before other social media users began fact-checking her take on the matter:
You’re overly dramatic and a moron. Sit down.
— One Bad Dude (@OneBadDude_) January 26, 2025
Ummm Trump scored a W didn’t you hear like 30 minutes?
Sign here please AOC. pic.twitter.com/aXl5CVIevO
— Arnie Hernandez (@arnie4ca) January 26, 2025
Fox News reported on some of the backlash:
While tariffs do have the potential to inflate prices, the importer, which is the company or entity bringing the goods into the U.S., will pay the actual tariff to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
But inflated prices are not guaranteed – sometimes, tariffs can reduce the world price of an object as suppliers rush to retain access to the large U.S. market. It is possible that coffee suppliers in different countries, such as Vietnam and Brazil – which produce more coffee than Colombia – would lower or maintain their prices.
Ocasio-Cortez’s tweet racked up over 47,000 likes from supporters as of 8 p.m., but received scorn from Trump supporters and tariff advocates.
“World record. 35 minutes and the tweet already aged like hot milk,” the social media account Catturd wrote, referencing Petro’s immediate offer to transport Colombian migrants on his presidential plane.
“Who wants to tell her that there are other countries that export coffee, not just Columbia,” California State Assembly Bill Essayli wrote.
Conservative commentator John Cardillo echoed Essayli’s sentiment, suggesting that the South American country “should take their illegal aliens back.”
ADVERTISEMENT“Plenty of other nations grow coffee beans,” Cardillo wrote on X. “We can buy the coffee from them.”
Here’s some additional Fox News coverage of the U.S.-Colombia discussions:
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