The strong message posted by the President of the Republic, Gustavo Petro, this Friday, September 5, from Japan did not go unnoticed by the mayor of Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez.
In the tweet, the Colombian president warned that any public official must have special permission to leave the country. Regarding the trip that Gutiérrez and four other mayors of the country's main cities will be making.
“Permission is required for public officials to leave the countryand we will immediately initiate the appropriate actions,” the head of state posted.
Permission is required for public officials to leave the country, and we will immediately initiate the appropriate actions. https://t.co/xlefc7SiVZ
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) September 5, 2025
Federico Gutiérrez later responded to Petro, taking advantage of the opportunity to bid farewell to the president and reiterating that he will travel to Washington.
"As mayor of Medellín, I've always been used to being threatened by the worst criminals. What I wasn't used to was being threatened by a president. I'm getting used to it," Gutiérrez posted on his personal X account.
And he added: “We will go to Washington to try to mitigate the disaster you have created. You chose to side with Maduro and the worst criminals.”
“We are on the side of our people. We are pulling Colombia forward from the regions. Bye.”
As Mayor of Medellín, I have always been used to being threatened by the worst criminals, what I was not used to is being threatened by a President. I am getting used to it.
— Fico Gutiérrez (@FicoGutierrez) September 5, 2025
We will go to Washington 🇺🇸 to try to mitigate the disaster that you have created.
You… https://t.co/qEJ51auqrW
It's worth noting that the five mayors' trip is scheduled for Sunday, September 7. There, they hope to meet with U.S. authorities, given the risk of Colombia being decertified in the fight against drugs.
The mayors of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán; Medellín, Federico Gutiérrez; Cali, Alejandro Eder; Barranquilla, Alejandro Char; and Cartagena, Dumek Turbay will travel. Earlier, this Friday, September 5, the Colombian president said from Japan, where he is carrying out an official visit: “These mayors are not authorized to represent Colombia. The Constitution is clear. Whether they certify or not, the Colombian Constitution is respected.”
Finally, the specter of a possible decertification of Colombia by the United States has been gaining strength in recent days, which would materialize due to the growth of hectares of coca crops in the country and the difficult relationship between presidents Gustavo Petro and Donald Trump, who have shown their teeth on more than one occasion on their social networks.
