Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez accused President Donald Trump of actions that would raise the price of coffee for Americans after he threatened tariffs on Colombia.
The tensions between the U.S. and Colombia rapidly escalated on Sunday before reaching a resolution after the country rejected two deportation planes carrying migrants from the U.S.
In response, the 78-year-old president fired off a social media post calling for retaliatory measures including emergency 25 percent tariffs on all products coming from Colombia that would increase to 50 percent in one week.
The progressive New York Democrat reacted to the clash with a warning that slapping tariffs on one of the biggest importers of coffee to the U.S. would hurt Americans’ wallets.
‘To “punish” Colombia, Trump is about to make every American pay even more for coffee. Remember: *WE* pay the tariffs, not Colombia,’ she wrote in a post on X.
‘Trump is all about making inflation WORSE for working class Americans, not better. He’s lining the pockets of himself and the billionaire class,’ the Squad member continued.
Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned that Trump’s threatened tariffs on Colombia would raise the price of coffee for Americans
Colombia is one of the U.S.’ closest allies in South America, and the tense back and forth raised questions about the country’s future relations as Trump zeros in on achieving his top priority of deporting migrants in the U.S. illegally.
Some Republican lawmakers praised the president’s immediate exertion of pressure, which has been held up as a warning to other countries.
But other lawmakers and experts on the region questioned what it would mean for U.S. influence there and Americans.
Coffee is one of the biggest imports that the U.S. receives from the South American country, along with cut flowers. Among top U.S. exports to Colombia are corn and soybeans.
After Trump vowed to impose stiff tariffs and sanctions, Colombian President Gustavo Petro threatened 25 percent retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods in response.
President Trump and Colombian President Petro had a heated exchange after Colombia rejected two military flights carrying migrants in the U.S. illegally on Sunday. Both countries threatened to impose steep tariffs sparking a trade war before the White House announced Colombia agreed to all of Trump’s terms on the deportation flights
Colombia has been accepting flights of migrants from the U.S. in the past, but Petro had taken issue with the military flights and had raised concerns over treating migrants with dignity during deportations.
In a furious post on Truth Social, Trump accused Colombia of jeopardizing U.S. national security and public safety by rejecting the two flights.
But by late Sunday night, the clash appeared to be resolved with the White House announcing Colombia had accepted all of Trump’s terms.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement that based on the agreement, the tariffs and sanctions ‘will be held in reserve.’
In its own response, Colombia said it would continue to accept deportees who are sent to the country under decent conditions.
The Colombian government also said high ranking officials would be heading to Washington this week to continue talks.
