Right-wing Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo De La Espriella expressed gratitude to President Trump on Wednesday after securing the most votes in the initial round of the country's elections. De La Espriella, who goes by the nickname "El Tigre," posted a message on X that included an AI-generated image of a bald eagle beside a tiger, with the eagle set against the American flag and the tiger against the Colombian flag.
"In you, I see a leader of true strength and conviction—one who refuses to yield to passing ideological trends or the enemies of freedom," De La Espriella wrote. "You have paved the way for the people to defeat the entrenched powers that have long held sway. In Colombia, we have now begun to follow that same path."
The candidate described the United States and Colombia as "sister nations, bound by the blood of heroes and by our shared destiny to defend Western civilization across the Americas." He added that both countries must stand together against "narcoterrorism" and "the communism that seeks to poison our republics."
De La Espriella, a dual U.S.-Colombian citizen and registered Republican, declared that the "coming Era of the Tiger" will begin on June 21, when the second round of voting is scheduled. Trump congratulated De La Espriella, predicting he would be "tremendously successful in leading Colombia to Grow the Economy, Create Jobs, Promote Trade, Stop Illegal Immigration, Crack Down on Crime and Drugs, and Restore LAW AND ORDER!"
"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," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "'EL TIGRE' ABELARDO DE LA ESPRIELLA WILL NOT LET THE WONDERFUL PEOPLE OF COLOMBIA DOWN!"
According to preliminary counts, De La Espriella won 43.7 percent of the vote, while left-wing candidate Senator Iván Cepeda—an ally of Colombian President Gustavo Petro—received 40.9 percent. The runoff election will decide the presidency.
President Petro sharply criticized Trump's intervention, writing in a post on X (translated from Spanish) that "when a country interferes in the decisions of another country, freedom dies." He urged Colombians to "vote in full freedom and not become either slaves or a colony of anyone," warning that "if the heart of the world loses its freedom and sovereignty, the hope of the world and of Colombia fades away."
Trump has a history of backing right-wing candidates across Latin America and Europe. He previously supported Honduran President Nasry "Tito" Asfura, frequently praised Argentine President Javier Milei, and during his first term strongly backed former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro. This pattern of endorsements has drawn both praise from conservative allies and criticism from those who view it as interference in foreign elections.
De La Espriella's campaign has resonated with voters frustrated by corruption and crime, echoing themes similar to those used by Trump in his own campaigns. The runoff on June 21 will test whether that message can secure a outright victory against Petro's leftist coalition.
