President Donald Trump issued a dark threat to a foreign leader during a news conference on Wednesday afternoon at the White House.
Trump took questions from the press during a roundtable discussion at the White House with business leaders and cabinet officials. Multiple reporters asked Trump about the administration's 21 strikes against alleged drug boats in international waters, which have killed more than 80 people. One reporter asked him if he had considered reaching out to the president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, about stopping the flow of drugs from his country into the United States.
"No, I haven't thought much about it," Trump said. "He's been very hostile to the United States. I haven't given a lot of thought to it. He's gonna have some big problems if he doesn't wise up."
Petro's relationship with Washington, D.C., has been tense, to say the least.
In September, Petro spoke at a pro-Palestinian rally in New York City, which led to the administration revoking his visa, Reuters reported. The Trump administration has also sanctioned Petro and his family for allegedly participating in the global drug trade, NPR reported.
The Colombian president is not the only foreign leader Trump is seeking to intimidate. Trump has been mounting a pressure campaign against Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro for several months, culminating in a military build-up near the country's border, CNN reported.
Trump seemed to escalate the rift with Petro on Wednesday as he issued a dark threat against Petro.
"Colombia is producing a lot of drugs," Trump said. "They have cocaine factories, they make cocaine, as you know, and they sell it into the United States. So he'd better wise up, or he'll be next. He'll be next, too."
