Betancourt Challenges Petro Over Macron Photo, Questions Absence of Italian Counterpart Image
UNITED NATIONS – A diplomatic exchange sparked following Colombian president Gustavo Petro’s address to the United Nations, centering on a photograph shared by Petro and a pointed question from opposition figure Ingrid Betancourt.
Betancourt sharply criticized Petro’s UN speech, alleging it served as a defense for Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and predicting both leaders would face legal consequences. She posted to X (formerly Twitter) on September 24, 2025, stating, “Petro did not speak to the world, and less to Trump from the UN. He prepared the defense of Maduro. Because when Maduro falls and he speaks from a uniformed prison of orange, it will be known how Petro was the president of the drug pocket. His departure will be to say that the allies of… [link to tweet].”
Petro responded to betancourt, stating, “You are wrong, sister Betancourt. Here we achieve a lot of friendship with a president of your country.” He accompanied this message with a photograph of himself embracing French President Emmanuel Macron.
Betancourt, who holds dual Colombian and French citizenship, then questioned the absence of a similar photo with the leader of Italy, writing, “Poor Macron, she will have to say that this photo was retouched and that this hand was not her. And what happened, brother, with Meloni? Couldn’t you take the picture with the president of your country?”
