Trump‑backed outsider narrowly wins Colombian election, declares new era

Mon Jun 22 2026 20:25:31 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Abelardo de la Espriella, backed by former U.S. President Donald Trump, wins Colombia's presidential runoff with a narrow majority, pledging a hard‑line security push.

Abelardo de la Espriella, a political outsider endorsed by Donald Trump, has taken Colombia’s presidency in a tight runoff, securing 49.7% of the vote. His campaign promised a military crackdown on guerrillas, drug trafficking and crime, and a close partnership with the United States. While supporters celebrated in Barranquilla, opponents warned of potential unrest amid a deeply divided country. The result may reshape Colombia’s long‑standing internal conflict and shift the region toward right‑wing governance.

Trump‑backed outsider narrowly wins Colombian election, declares new era

Abelardo de la Espriella, the right‑wing candidate with no previous political office, has edged past his opponent Iván Cepeda in the Colombian presidential runoff, claiming 49.7% of the vote against Cepeda’s 48.7% in an initial count that included almost 99% of ballots. The result brings the endorsement of former U.S. President Donald Trump to the forefront of Colombia’s politics.

Crowd in Barranquilla — Crowds celebrated on the streets of Barranquilla

Who is Abelardo de la Espriella?

A lawyer and businessman, de la Espriella has defended clients ranging from Venezuelan ally Alex Saab to Colombian fraudster David Murcia Guzman. His legal background has not yet translated into elected office, but he has drawn comparisons to El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele for his security‑oriented stances and distinct beard style. De la Espriella, who moved to Miami in the 1990s, became a U.S. citizen in 2023 and has long been involved in legal work that crosses borders.

Military crackdown

The Colombian internal armed conflict has persisted for decades, and its intensity has risen in recent years with the growth of FARC dissidents, the ELN and the Clan del Golfo. De la Espriella has pledged to scrap negotiation with illegal armed groups, opting instead for a hard‑line military approach that would also seek closer ties with the United States. He also plans to construct mega‑prisons in jungle areas, reduce the size of the state and reform the health system.

Trump endorsement

Trump announced that he would “stop illegal immigration, crack down on crime and drugs, and restore LAW AND ORDER!” and promised the “total support and strength of the United States” behind de la Espriella. The endorsement comes hotly at a time when U.S. relations with Latin America have been strained under the previous Colombian administration, most notably over migration policies and trade disputes.

De la Espriella’s slogan, “El Tigre”, has become a rallying cry for his supporters, who donned yellow football jerseys and waved Colombian flags, chanting “Make Colombia Great Again!” in solidarity with Trump’s pro‑law‑and‑order platform. At a celebratory rally in Barranquilla, he declared that he would govern for all Colombians, hinting at reconciling polarised factions despite a narrow margin.

Following the announcement, protests erupted in Cali, the country’s third‑largest city, where demonstrators burned U.S. flags and police used tear gas to disperse crowds. President Gustavo Petro flagged that the preliminary count was “not official or binding”, and he has urged an audit of voting software, citing alleged manipulation at some polling stations.

Supporters of Cepeda remain uneasy, with activists noting that the close result reflects deep divisions in society and potential threats to democracy, peace, and the rule of law. While most protesters have abstained from violent acts, the situation remains tense as the final official canvassing proceeds.