Marco Rubio Calls Colombian President Petro a ‘Lunatic’ As Feud Escalates: ‘He’s Not Well’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio slammed Colombian President Gustavo Petro on Thursday, calling him a “lunatic” as the feud between Bogota and Washington continues to escalate.

“The Colombian authorities, when it comes to their military and their police, are still pro-American. The only problem with Colombia is their lunatic president. He’s a lunatic, he’s not well. Everybody knows that. The Colombian Congress voted to designate the Venezuelan regime as a narco terrorist organization. It is unfortunate they have to deal with this guy until May of next year,” Rubio told press, in reference to the country’s next presidential elections. The next president is set to take office on August 7.

It is the latest clash between American and Colombian officials. Earlier this week Petro slammed Donald Trump, saying he has to “change his heart” or risk losing future elections.

Petro made the claim in an interview with Univision, prompting claims by detractors that he was threatening to “overthrow” Trump. One of them was Republican Rep. Carlos Gimenez, who claimed that “Petro’s threats must be taken seriously.” “He is a genuine threat to the safety & security of our hemisphere,” Gimenez added in a social media publication.

Petro responded, saying he was not “threatening” Trump. “I’m only saying that Trump must change his heart, going from defending policies of death in the world like the Palestinian genocide, for policies of life. If that change doesn’t take place, then the American people will change Trump, because one can’t go towards general suicide,” he added.

Petro further slammed Trump in another passage of the interview as their clashes escalate during Washington’s military deployment in the Caribbean. He claimed that “the U.S. doesn’t care about us at all, and they show it with their words.”

“They treat us rudely and lie about us because they think we have to obey them. Trump said we’re out of control. Out of his control! He is not a king in Colombia, we don’t accept kings. He can speak with me as an equal. Giving me orders? No sir,” Petro added.

Bogota announced on Monday it is recalling its ambassador to the U.S., the country’s foreign minister said.

Rosa Yolanda Villavicencio Mapy said Daniel Garcia-Peña is already in Bogota, and Petro will inform about “decisions made about it” shortly.

Trump, on his end, has slammed Petro, most recently accusing his government of of failing to combat drug production. He called Colombia a drug manufacturing machine” and asserted that it “has the worst president they’ve ever had.” “He’s a lunatic,” he added.