Strength Matters

Colombian President Gustavo Petro defied Donald Trump for about four hours over the weekend. He refused to accept two plane loads of illegal immigrants Trump sent back to Colombia.

President Trump immediately warned Petro. He threatened to impose stiff tariffs on Colombia products, sanctions on Colombian government officials, and he also threatened to seize Colombian bank accounts in the United States.

Before the day was over, Petro caved and even offered to send his presidential plane to pick up the migrants.

This wasn’t a minor confrontation with an insignificant country. The president of Colombia is a very bad man. He’s a Marxist, and he’s deeply submerged in a partnership with horrific drug cartels.

Petro and others in Colombia are getting rich off the invasion of people and drugs into our country. Colombia is also the gateway to the Darien Gap, a region connecting South America and Central America that is heavily traversed by illegal migrants.

It was probably Trump’s threat to seize bank accounts and impose personal sanctions that caused Petro’s quick turnaround. But he was totally uncooperative during the Biden administration because he knew Biden was a pushover. Donald Trump just sent a message to Colombia and the entire world that he won’t be pushed around.

Here’s another example of what a strong president can do.

Donald Trump went to Los Angeles Friday to survey the damage from the wildfires and meet with local officials. Homeowners in the devastated areas have been extremely frustrated by bureaucrats who won’t allow them to return and inspect their homes.

Trump walked into a room full of left-wing politicians, and he totally dominated the meeting. He told the mayor to let people go back to their homes now. She caved. Trump also promised to waive federal regulations to help the area rebuild and recover faster. He urged California officials to do the same.

What other president, Republican or Democrat, would voluntarily walk into a room where every official was from the opposite party and proceed to take them all on? Joe Biden would never do that.

The very thing that bothers so many good people who get hung up on Trump’s gruff style is exactly what makes him who he is and effective at governing. His willingness to fly in the face of consensus, to challenge the conventional wisdom, and stand up to the establishment is what so many Americans love about him.