By The Daily Wire (World News) | Created at 2026-06-22 13:55:49 | Updated at 2026-06-22 20:36:17
11 hours ago
A Trump-backed candidate appears set to take the reins in Colombia after the country was governed for four years by a far-Left president.
Right-wing lawyer Abelardo De la Espriella defeated leftist Senator Iván Cepeda, according to initial results. The Trump administration congratulated De la Espriella Sunday night after he took 49.7% of the vote to his opponent’s 48.7%.
“National dignity has triumphed, hope has triumphed. Today is a wonderful night in which democracy shone and Colombia demonstrated its greatness. This is the night in which we mark a new order: the Homeland Miracle,” De la Espriella said on X.
Ha triunfado la dignidad nacional, ha triunfado la esperanza.
Hoy es una noche maravillosa en que brilló la democracia y Colombia demostró su grandeza.
Esta es la noche en la que marcamos un nuevo orden: la Patria Milagro.
Firme por la Patria. 🫡
(A.D.L.E) 🇨🇴🐅 pic.twitter.com/aaaWi0ZM8p
— Abelardo De La Espriella (@ABDELAESPRIELLA) June 22, 2026
While De la Espriella declared victory, leftist Colombian President Gustavo Petro claimed no one could yet be declared victor until the election was certified by judges. He alleged that voting machines had been compromised by Israel.
Petro said that “software was compromised and others wrote data for polling stations and voting posts” and that the “only entity in the world capable of doing that is the state of Israel.”
President Donald Trump, who endorsed De la Espriella earlier this month, said in a Truth Social post that “he won, BIG.”
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that he looked forward to working with De la Espriella.
“The Trump Administration looks forward to working closely with your incoming administration to advance regional security cooperation, end illegal immigration to the United States, and strengthen our economic ties,” said Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a social media post. “Colombia’s best days are ahead.”
Commenting on Rubio’s post, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said that the Trump administration’s anti-drug trafficking efforts in partnership with Latin American leaders would “change the entire future of the Western Hemisphere.”
In his endorsement, Trump said that De la Espriella would crack down on crime, illegal immigration, and drug trafficking. De la Espriella ran on a law-and-order platform involving taking a firm approach to rebel groups that have plagued the country for years.
“The results of this election are very important to the future of Colombia and its relationship with the United States,” Trump said in his endorsement. “Because of his tremendous accomplishments in life, and his political support for me personally, it is my honor to give Abelardo my complete and total endorsement.”
A wave of Right-wing leaders has been elected in Latin America in recent months including in Honduras, Costa Rica, Chile, Bolivia, and Ecuador.
