‘Out with the Yanks!’: Thousands Rally in Colombia Against Trump’s Threats in Venezuela

According to Rokna, citing The Guardian, thousands of Colombians took to the streets in cities across the country to protest Trump’s threats to extend his military operations in South America following last weekend’s deadly raid in Venezuela. In Cúcuta, a city on Colombia’s eastern border with Venezuela, several hundred protesters marched toward the city’s 19th-century cathedral, waving the national yellow, blue, and red flag while chanting “Fuera los yanquis!” (“Out with the Yanks!”).

“Trump is the devil… he’s the most repugnant person in the world,” said Janet Chacón, a 55-year-old businesswoman participating in the protest. José Silva, 67, described the abduction of Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro during Saturday’s operation as undermining Trump’s claim to be “the president of peace.”

“He’s the president of war… a lunatic,” Silva stated. “The U.S. Congress needs to act to remove him from office… He’s a thug.”

Colombia’s leftist President Gustavo Petro called Wednesday’s demonstrations after Trump suggested he might consider military action in Colombia, following the daring assault on Venezuela’s capital. During the raid, Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores were captured, while numerous Cuban and Venezuelan bodyguards were killed by U.S. special forces at a military base in Caracas.

“What occurred in Venezuela was, in my view, illegal,” Petro told thousands of supporters gathered at Bolívar Plaza in Bogotá. A protester in front of the stage held a sign reading, “Go to hell, shitty Yanks.” However, Petro adopted a more measured tone after speaking with Trump, shortly before his public remarks.

“It was an honor to speak with the President of Colombia… I appreciated his call and tone and look forward to meeting him soon,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. Petro expressed willingness to meet Trump but cautioned: “We cannot lower our guard. Words must be followed by actions.”

On Sunday, Trump called Petro “a sick man who likes making cocaine and selling it to the U.S.,” despite no evidence linking Colombia’s leader to drug trafficking. When asked about the possibility of a Venezuela-style military intervention in Colombia, Trump replied: “It sounds good to me.”

Trump’s operation in Venezuela — partly aimed at gaining “total access” to the country’s vast oil reserves — along with threats to Colombia, has sent shockwaves across Latin America. Demonstrators have staged protests in cities including Mexico City, São Paulo, and Buenos Aires, condemning what they term a “Yankee invasion” and the potential for further attacks.

“The people of Latin America are sending a clear message: ‘Donald Trump, hands off our continent. Latin America is not the United States’ backyard,’” said Reimont Otoni, a leftist Brazilian congressman who led protests outside the U.S. consulate in Rio de Janeiro.

Otoni acknowledged that Venezuela faces “a humanitarian and democratic crisis” under Maduro but stressed that military action or kidnapping a head of state will not solve the problem. “This is an assertion of North American imperialism. Trump seeks to control the world’s largest oil reserves and dominate Venezuela,” he said, criticizing European leaders for failing to condemn the intervention.

Similar anger was visible in Colombian cities during Wednesday’s marches. The U.S. embassy urged its citizens to avoid protest areas, citing the risk of violence.

“He doesn’t aim to liberate Venezuela; he just wants the oil,” said Marta Jiménez, a 65-year-old teacher in Cúcuta. She criticized the international community for allowing Trump to act unchecked, warning that any Latin American country could be next.

Juan Carlos Silva, 59, voiced fears that Colombia could be the next target. “We’re not against the U.S. people, many of whom are good. But this man [Trump] is possessed by the devil,” Silva said. Though he acknowledged Maduro’s dictatorship, he argued that Trump poses a greater threat. “He’s trying to start a third world war, just like Hitler. He must be stopped.”

Trump’s nighttime operation in Caracas was his most dramatic intervention in Latin America since returning to power a year ago, but not his first. In his inaugural address last January, he vowed to “take back” the Panama Canal, and he has since imposed sanctions on Brazil, intervened in Honduras’ elections, and offered a multi-billion-dollar bailout to Argentina’s right-wing president, Javier Milei.

On Sunday, Trump hinted at potential military action in Mexico to counter drug cartels. Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested Cuba could be a future target, saying the country “is in a lot of trouble.”

Trump’s actions have alarmed Latin American diplomats, who fear further U.S. aggression against Venezuela. Benjamin Gedan, director for South America at the National Security Council under Barack Obama, said Trump has shown “astounding disregard for U.S. diplomatic relationships and international reputation.”

“He seems focused on bullying governments into submission, ignoring public opinion and soft power,” Gedan added. “Trump appears intent on maximizing diplomatic damage.”

According to Gedan, Trump could have framed Maduro’s capture as a win for democracy, but instead prioritized resource acquisition, alienating potential allies. “Which Latin American leader would support this operation for the U.S. oil sector?” Gedan asked.