NEW YORK — Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who severed relations with Israel in 2024, faced criticism over his recent use of “Heil Hitler” on X.
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Petro, whose term ends on Aug. 7, was in New York on Wednesday to preside over a meeting of the United Nations Security Council.
The Coalition of Latin American Legislators Against Antisemitism had already condemned Petro’s use of references to Nazism.
Petro defended his use of the Nazi salute on Sunday writing that it was meant to reference the “fascist phrases” in an op-ed that newspaper El Espectador published on Sunday.
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“Using Nazi slogans is a disgraceful low from which there is no coming back,” Danny Danon, Israel’s ambassador to the UN, wrote on X.
The op-ed was in support of Abelardo de la Espriella, a right-wing presidential candidate who is running against Iván Cepeda, whom Petro has endorsed as his left-wing successor.
“It is absolutely disgusting to use that phrase,” Rep. Carlos A. Giménez wrote to Petro on X.
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The runoff election is on June 21.
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Heil Hitler https://t.co/IbRBgwUY3N
— Gustavo Petro (@petrogustavo) June 7, 2026
