Gustavo Petro Feels Seen

See what a whit of respect can do for a man? Until last weekend, you had perhaps read mention of Colombian president Gustavo Petro only once or twice, in those genteel and softhearted tones American elites tend to affect when they ponder elites less fortunate. Life must be hard over there. Well, look at him now.

“You may kill me, but I will survive through my people, who existed before yours, in the Americas,” he tweeted at Trump. Lines better recited from a balcony in Piazza Venezia — too fine to be thumbed out on a touch screen. (Besides, nobody was trying to kill him; a U.S. agency had averted the last attempt.) “We are the people of the winds, the mountains, the Caribbean Sea, and of freedom.” Magniloquence generates surplus steam. You might think Petro that morning had routed an armada. He had in fact turned away aircraft carrying Colombian criminal repatriates from the United States. Can’t blame him. That’s a study-abroad cohort you don’t want to see return. He quickly capitulated once Trump had a word online. Smartphone diplomacy requires no multilateral summits. President Petro would receive his compatriots and even offer Colombia’s air force uno for their transport. Spat settled? No.

About the Author

Vahaken Mouradian

Vahaken Mouradian is the literary editor of National Review.

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See what a whit of respect can do for a man? Until last weekend, you had perhaps read mention of Colombian president Gustavo Petro only once or twice, in those genteel and softhearted tones American elites tend to affect when they ponder elites less fortunate. Life must be hard over there. Well, look at him now.

“You may kill me, but I will survive through my people, who existed before yours, in the Americas,” he tweeted at Trump. Lines better recited from a balcony in Piazza Venezia — too fine to be thumbed out on a touch screen. (Besides, nobody was trying to kill him; a U.S. agency had averted the last attempt.) “We are the people of the winds, the mountains, the Caribbean Sea, and of freedom.” Magniloquence generates surplus steam. You might think Petro that morning had routed an armada. He had in fact turned away aircraft carrying Colombian criminal repatriates from the United States. Can’t blame him. That’s a study-abroad cohort you don’t want to see return. He quickly capitulated once Trump had a word online. Smartphone diplomacy requires no multilateral summits. President Petro would receive his compatriots and even offer Colombia’s air force uno for their transport. Spat settled? No.