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Colombian President Gustavo Petro speaks at a podium during a public address, holding a pencil and papers, in response to recent comments from former U.S. President Donald Trump.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro. Photo credit: AFP

Colombian President Responds to Trump's Threats

January 7, 2026

Colombian President Responds to Trump's Threats

After Donald Trump threatened military action over drug trafficking, Colombian President Gustavo Petro pushed back. Use this lesson to help students unpack the diplomatic tensions, U.S.–Latin America relations, and media framing.

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PBS News Hour Classroom
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Note: If you are short on time, watch the video and complete this See, Think, Wonder activity: What did you notice? What did the story make you think? What would you want to learn more about?

The situation in Venezuela's neighbor to the West, Colombia, is tense tonight. Though Colombia is a major non-NATO ally of the U.S., President Trump has repeatedly threatened its president, Gustavo Petro, alleging without evidence that he has ties to the drug trade. Geoff Bennett discussed the situation with special correspondent Mónica Villamizar, who is in Bogotá.

View the transcript of the story.

Warm-Up Questions

  1. Who is Gustavo Petro, and what is his role?
  2. Where is Colombia in relation to Venezuela?
  3. What has Colombia's relationship with the United States been like in recent years?
  4. Why did the Trump administration develop a negative relationship with Petro and his government?
  5. How has the Trump administration threatened Colombia and Petro?

Essential Questions

  • After watching this segment, do you think the Trump administration policy toward Colombia is rooted in policy goals or dislike of its government? Why do you think so?
  • What do you think are some similarities and differences between the Trump administration's approach to Venezuela and other Latin American countries such as Colombia? Why do you think the administration chose Venezuela to target?
  • Media literacy: Why do you think the producers of this segment asked a journalist on the ground to summarize Colombian popular opinion and attitudes rather than interview affected individuals, such as those in the Colombian government?

What Students Can Do

Watch the following short video about the reaction of people in Venezuela to the removal of Nicols Maduro. After watching, discuss —

  • How do the people described in this segment seem to feel about the attack on their country and removal of their president?
  • What seems to be the top concerns of people in Venezuela?
  • After watching this segment and the one about Colombia that began this lesson, how do you think the Trump administration's actions will impact the future of South America and its relationship to the United States?

Lesson Plans on International Politics

Find more resources on international politics and how they relate to your students with our free collection of preK-12 lesson plans and teaching resources.

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Republished with permission from PBS News Hour Classroom.

PBS News Hour Classroom
PBS News Hour Classroom helps teachers and students identify the who, what, where and why-it-matters of the major national and international news stories. The site combines the best of News Hour's reliable, trustworthy news program with lesson plans developed specifically for... See More
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