The United States has revoked the visa of Colombian President Gustavo Petro after remarks he delivered during a demonstration in New York City, where he urged American troops to disregard directives from President Donald Trump.
The action followed Petro’s appearance at a pro-Palestinian rally held near the United Nations headquarters during the opening week of the General Assembly. State Department officials characterized his words as both reckless and provocative, arguing that his conduct crossed a diplomatic line, wrote Axios.
In a statement posted on Twitter, the department declared: “Earlier today, [Petro] stood on a NYC street and urged U.S. soldiers to disobey orders and incite violence. We will revoke Petro’s visa due to his reckless and incendiary actions.”
Cómo presidente de Colombia, en la asamblea general de las naciones que fundamos en la ONU, expreso mis opiniones libremente.
El derecho internacional, es la sabiduría de la humanidad y me protege.
El genocidio es un crimen contra la humanidad y la humanidad debe responder,… https://t.co/9fCOj2ydhv
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) September 27, 2025
Petro had arrived in New York for the 80th session of the General Assembly and joined the gathering on September 26 at Dag Hammarskjold Plaza. Footage from the scene showed him, aided by a translator and standing alongside musician Roger Waters, appealing directly to U.S. military personnel to defy Trump’s authority. Reports from the plaza indicated that no one in uniform was present.
“I ask all the soldiers of the United States Army not to point their guns at humanity,” he said. “Disobey the orders of Trump. Obey the orders of humanity.”
The episode unfolded against a backdrop of sharp exchanges inside the U.N. chamber itself, noted The New York Times, where several delegates walked out during an address by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Petro invoked international protections, contending that “international laws grant me immunity to go to the UN and that there should be no reprisals for my free opinion, because I am a free person.” He went on to criticize Trump’s advisers and implored the American president to “see humanity clearly and what’s happening” with regard to the conflict in Gaza and U.S. immigration policies.
