Who Is The Colombian 'Tiger' Backed By Trump? | Abelardo de la Espriella?

Abelardo de la Espriella, far-right lawyer and businessman who calls himself 'The Tiger,' has emerged as a leading candidate in Colombia’s 2026 presidential election. He topped the first round with 44% votes and will face leftist senator Ivan Cepeda in the runoff on June 21. A strong Trump supporter who has received a full endorsement from the US President, Abelardo represents a radical shift towards hardline anti-crime politics in Latin America.

He promises to eradicate narco-terrorism using aggressive military force, mega-prisons, aerial fumigation, and even shoot down drug planes. As a political outsider with no prior public office, he positions himself as the defender of Colombian democracy against tyranny.