Trump endorses Colombian presidential candidate de la Espriella

U.S. President ‌Donald ​Trump on Tuesday endorsed Colombian presidential candidate Abelardo de la Espriella, a right-wing lawyer, who will ‌face off against leftist senator Ivan Cepeda in a runoff election this month.

"The results of this Election are very important to the future ‌of Colombia and its relationship to the United States," Trump said ‌in a post on social media. De la Espriella and Cepeda will head to a June presidential runoff after a tight first-round vote. De la Espriella, ⁠who ​has never held elected ⁠office, garnered nearly 44% of the votes, while Cepeda, a long-time senator and ⁠activist, garnered under 41%.

De la Espriella's personal style and policy proposals - including tough ​rhetoric against illegal armed groups and the promise to build 10 ⁠megaprisons - have drawn comparisons to El Salvador's Nayib Bukele. "The United States plays a crucial ⁠role ​in combating crime and narco-terrorism and in finally freeing Colombia from so much pain and violence," De la Espriella said ⁠in a video interview shared on social media, adding that he and ⁠Trump "share values and ⁠principles in defense of democracy, in defense of freedom and in defense of the rule of law."

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