Trump, Colombia’s Petro to Meet at White House for Drug‑Trafficking Talks
President Trump will host Colombia’s Gustavo Petro at the White House on Tuesday for high-stakes talks expected to focus on drug trafficking, and Petro will hold a news conference at the Colombian Embassy at 3:30 p.m. EST; U.S. officials formally waived sanctions on Petro, his wife, his son and Colombia’s interior minister to allow the visit. Trump said Petro became “very nice” and “changed his attitude” toward the U.S. after the raid capturing Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro, and U.S. lethal maritime strikes tied to cocaine interdiction have killed at least 126 people in 36 known attacks in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
📌 Key Facts
- Confirms timing and logistics: Trump will welcome Petro to the White House on Tuesday, with Petro holding a news conference at the Colombian Embassy at 3:30 p.m. EST.
- Adds fresh Trump quote that Petro became "very nice" and "changed his attitude" toward the U.S. after the raid capturing Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.
- Specifies that sanctions on Petro, his wife, his son and Colombia’s interior minister had to be formally waived to allow Petro’s travel to Washington for this visit.
- Reiterates and quantifies the scope of U.S. lethal maritime strikes tied to cocaine interdiction: at least 126 people killed in 36 known attacks in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
February 03, 2026
4:43 PM
WATCH LIVE: Colombian President Petro expected to hold news conference after Trump meeting
New information:
- Confirms timing and logistics: Trump will welcome Petro to the White House on Tuesday, with Petro holding a news conference at the Colombian Embassy at 3:30 p.m. EST.
- Adds fresh Trump quote that Petro became "very nice" and "changed his attitude" toward the U.S. after the raid capturing Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro.
- Specifies that sanctions on Petro, his wife, his son and Colombia’s interior minister had to be formally waived to allow Petro’s travel to Washington for this visit.
- Reiterates and quantifies the scope of U.S. lethal maritime strikes tied to cocaine interdiction: at least 126 people killed in 36 known attacks in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific.