U.S. State Department Cancels Colombian President’s Visa After Controversial Rally

The U.S. State Department revoked the visa of President Gustavo Petro of Colombia last year following his attendance at a pro-Palestinian rally in Manhattan. President Petro had intended to participate in a forum led by New York’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

A planned meeting this week between President Petro and Mayor Mamdani was canceled due to concerns from American diplomats. They informed the Colombian government that the meeting might breach the terms of President Petro’s restricted entry to the United States, as reported by both Colombian and American officials.

The U.S. State Department had previously canceled Mr. Petro’s visa last fall, permitting him only to travel for a United Nations Security Council meeting, with no approval for other engagements. Colombian authorities acquiesced to cancel the scheduled meeting on Friday after being contacted by officials from the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá.

Normally, foreign heads of state receive visas that allow unrestricted entry into the United States. However, Mr. Petro’s visa was canceled after his involvement at a pro-Palestinian rally in Manhattan in September. During the rally, he criticized U.S. backing of Israel’s actions in Gaza and urged U.S. soldiers to defy presidential orders. This incident followed previous tensions between Mr. Petro and the Trump administration, as Mr. Petro is known for his leftist views.

The New York City Mayor’s Office did not offer an immediate response to requests for comments.

The State Department released a statement saying, “As the secretary has emphasized, a visa is a privilege, not a right. Any individual holding a U.S. visa may face revocation if they come to America and egregiously call on U.S. soldiers to disobey commands of the duly elected president of the United States. Despite President Trump’s attempts to reach a mutual understanding, such provocative behavior continues.”