Colombian presidential hopeful Abelardo de la Espriella is making waves with his promise to dismantle criminal organizations and reduce government spending. His plans include bombing camps of “narco-terrorists” and establishing large-scale prisons if he succeeds in the runoff election.
De la Espriella has received vocal support from President Trump, who has diverged from typical White House protocol by openly influencing foreign elections, especially in Latin America. Trump endorsed De la Espriella, calling him “El Tigre,” which led the candidate to share an AI-generated image of an eagle and tiger, symbolizing unity between American and Colombian interests. De la Espriella expressed admiration for Trump, stating, “You have paved the way for the people to defeat the entrenched powers.”
As a newcomer in politics, De la Espriella’s campaign emphasizes gym workout videos and aggressive rhetoric against the left. His strategy mirrors that of far-right politicians in the region who are inspired by Trump’s approach. These politicians often present themselves as outsiders committed to trimming government, tightening immigration, and strengthening law enforcement.
Many in Latin America now identify more with the right than in the past two decades, according to polling firm Latinobarómetro. Recently, several conservative figures have won presidential elections, such as Argentina’s Javier Milei and El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, both adopting policies similar to Trump’s.
Latin America is witnessing a conservative shift, with leaders like Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa and Chile’s José Antonio Kast adopting hardline policies. Peru may follow suit if Keiko Fujimori wins the election. The left retains power in a few countries, such as Mexico, Colombia, and Brazil, but faces serious challenges.
De la Espriella’s progress in Colombia poses a challenge to leftist President Gustavo Petro, who has criticized Trump’s endorsement and urged Colombians to resist external interference. Meanwhile, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum accuses the U.S. of meddling in their elections by announcing drug charges against members of her party.
The White House declined to comment on the accusations, though Trump previously stated that Mexico needs to do more to combat drug cartels. Trump’s influence and strategy in Latin America have been characterized as interventionist by critics like Guillaume Long, who calls the approach a move to expand U.S. political and economic influence.
“I think there’s a lot of cross-pollination going on,” said Mexican journalist Alex González Ormerod, noting the influence between Trump and Latin American leaders.
Analysts caution that political sentiment in Latin America tends to swing between right and left. Benjamin Gedan of the Stimson Center describes a common pattern where voters, frustrated with the status quo, often vote out incumbents in what’s known as “voto castigo” or “the punishment vote.”