President Trump inserted himself into Colombia's presidential race with a full endorsement of right-wing candidate Abelardo De La Espriella. Trump called his left-wing rival a 'Radical Left Marxist' and emphasized the importance of the election for U.S.-Colombia relations, marking a continuation of Trump's pattern of influencing foreign elections during his second term.

De La Espriella, a 47-year-old criminal defense lawyer who has never held office, captured 43% of the vote in Sunday's election. He faces Iván Cepeda in a runoff on June 21. De La Espriella has positioned himself as an outsider similar to Trump, pitching himself as a cost-cutter and hard-liner on security amid rising crime and armed conflict in Colombia.

The endorsement adds a wild card to an already polarized race. Colombian President Petro accused the U.S. of interference, warning that 'when one country interferes in another country's decisions, freedom dies.' Trump's support has helped fuel a rightward shift in Latin America, with his endorsed candidates winning elections in Honduras and Argentina.