Trump and Rubio congratulate De la Espriella on his preliminary victory in Colombia

U.S. President Donald Trump has called ultraconservative candidate Abelardo de la Espriella to congratulate him on his preliminary victory in Sunday’s presidential election in Colombia. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the call took place and said the Trump administration is eager to cooperate with Colombia’s new government. “The Trump Administration looks forward to working closely with your incoming administration to advance regional security cooperation, end illegal immigration to the United States, and strengthen our economic ties. Colombia’s best days are ahead,” Rubio wrote on X.

Right and far-right leaders across Latin America also celebrated De la Espriella’s victory. As soon as the vote count reached 99% of precincts, Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, posted a congratulatory message. “THE LION AND THE TIGER ROAR IN LATIN AMERICA...!!!” the Argentine president exclaimed on X, alluding to De la Espriella’s nickname, El Tigre.

Milei highlighted the pillars that drove the Colombian far-right candidate’s platform: security and the economy. “Today the majority of Colombians chose the path of economic freedom, prosperity, relentless security and saying ENOUGH to transnational organized crime and drug trafficking,” the Argentine president wrote. For him, De la Espriella’s presidency represents the growth of his ultraconservative ideological bloc. “Freedom is advancing across Latin America and there is no turning back,” he concluded.

Just minutes later, Ecuador’s president, Daniel Noboa, also congratulated the Colombian ultraconservative on his win in the presidential race. “Today Colombia chose order over impunity,” Noboa wrote on his social media. The Ecuadorian leader also celebrated the ideological affinities he shares with Colombia’s ultra-conservative candidate. “We share the conviction that our region deserves security, progress and governments that confront crime without excuses,” he also wrote.

Brazilian senator and presidential hopeful Flávio Bolsonaro joined the chorus with a video in Spanish. “Congratulations to Abelardo, El Tigre,” said the son of imprisoned former president Jair Bolsonaro. “Right-wing agendas continue to win in the Americas because (…) we fight so our nations can be free and prosperous.” The Bolsonaro clan hopes to defeat President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and return to power in the next presidential election. “Your victory is the victory of good over evil,” Bolsonaro Jr., who is second in the polls just a few points behind the leftist Lula, added.

Messages in support of De la Espriella also came from the United States. The first U.S. lawmaker to celebrate the preliminary victory was Representative María Elvira Salazar, a Republican from Florida with close ties to the Cuban diaspora. “Today Colombians wrote a new page in their country’s history and sent a clear message: freedom, security and opportunity remain stronger than the ideas that have failed in our hemisphere. The best is yet to come!” she wrote on X. She was followed by Ohio Republican Senator Berni Moreno, who praised the efficiency of Colombia’s electoral system and underscored the role of the far-right candidate. “Abelardo is a strong leader, a fighter and someone who loves his country. I know he will work tirelessly so Colombia becomes safe, strong and prosperous again. He will be the president of all Colombians,” the senator wrote on his social channels.

With additional reporting by Mar Centenera in Buenos Aires and Naiara Galarraga in São Paulo.

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