(American Political Report)—On Thursday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that he brought back John T. McNamara, the temporary head of the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá, Colombia, to Washington. Rubio said this was because of “baseless and reprehensible statements” made by top Colombian officials.
The State Department explained in a statement that McNamara was called back for urgent talks about these “baseless and reprehensible statements from the highest levels of the Government of Colombia.”
The statement also said, “In addition to the recall of the Chargé, the United States is pursuing other measures to make clear our deep concern over the current state of our bilateral relationship.” It added, “Despite policy differences with the current government, Colombia remains an essential strategic partner,” and that the U.S. is committed to working together on issues like regional security and improving life for both Americans and Colombians.
No specific details were shared about why McNamara was recalled, but this move follows comments by Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who claimed “right-wing extremists” were trying to overthrow him.
In May, the Associated Press reported that Petro’s former foreign minister, Alvaro Leyva, called Petro a drug “addict” for the second time in three weeks. Leyva also posted a seven-page letter on X, saying Petro should resign because he is “dependent on substances that affect emotional and mental equilibrium.”
Petro, who was elected in 2022 and has one year left as president, denied these claims in a speech in Bogotá. He called himself a “revolutionary” who will not be “enslaved” by drugs. Earlier, on April 22, Leyva had accused Petro of drug use in another letter, saying Petro “went missing” for a few days during a state visit to Paris because of it. Petro said he was just visiting family in France.
The U.S. and Colombia have had some tensions. In March, they agreed to use biometric technology to manage migration and fight crime. This came after a disagreement between President Donald Trump and Petro about how Colombian migrants were treated during deportations from the U.S.
In January, the U.S. sent two flights of undocumented Colombians back to Colombia, but Petro rejected them, saying the U.S. cannot “treat Colombian migrants as criminals.” He asked for better treatment of migrants before Colombia would accept them.
Trump responded by threatening a 25% tax on all Colombian goods entering the U.S., which would increase to 50% after a week. He also ordered a travel ban and canceled visas for Colombian officials and their supporters. Eventually, the two countries reached an agreement, and deportations continued, though Petro has encouraged Colombian migrants to return home.
Why the National Debt Is the Looming Threat to Your Retirement Plans
The Hidden Crisis No One Is Talking About
Every day, headlines warn about inflation, market volatility, and global instability—but the greatest looming threat to your retirement might be something far more fundamental: America’s skyrocketing national debt.
You can learn more about how the national debt affects you by reading this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“.
With debt growing faster than most Americans can possibly fathom, the government’s borrowing habits have reached historic—and dangerous—levels. To cover spending, Washington is making moves with their budget packages, tariffs, and taxes. Is it enough? No. It’s not even close to what would be necessary to stop out-of-control debt, let alone reverse it.
How Debt Erodes Your Nest Egg
There are only so many levers government and the Federal Reserve can pull to try to protect Americans, assuming that’s even a top priority for them. Unfortunately, pulling one level to relive one pressure invariably adds pressure from another direction. This is why prices keep going up even as inflation reportedly slows.
For retirees and pre-retirees, that’s a perfect storm. The dollars you’ve worked hard to save lose value, and your cost of living increases while your investments lag behind.
If you’re relying solely on paper-based assets—stocks, bonds, or mutual funds—you’re essentially tied to the same system that’s creating the problem. It’s a system that was designed to work well in the 20th century, not in today’s world with people living longer and the dollar rapidly losing value.
This is why the 3-minute report, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now,” is so important.
The Precious Metals Hedge
Thousands of Americans are looking for a tangible, time-tested hedge: physical gold and silver.
Unlike paper assets, precious metals aren’t dependent on government policy or the stock market’s mood swings. They’re real, finite resources that have maintained value for thousands of years through wars, recessions, and inflationary periods.
In fact, during times of high inflation and fiscal instability, gold often performs its best—because it’s seen as a store of value when faith in the dollar weakens. This is why prices have skyrocketed this year and are expected by many economists to continue going up in the future.
Take Control with a Gold IRA
One of the most effective ways to protect your retirement from national debt fallout is through a self-directed Gold IRA. This IRS-approved account lets you hold physical gold and silver within your retirement portfolio, giving you:
- Direct ownership of your assets
- A hedge against inflation and dollar decline
- The control to diversify beyond Wall Street
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in helping Americans just like you take this step with confidence. The company has earned a strong reputation for transparency, education, and personalized service—making it one of the most trusted names in the industry.
The Next Step: Secure Your Financial Future
Augusta Precious Metals has helped thousands of Americans with at least $50,000 to invest from their IRAs, 401(K)s, TSPs, and other retirement accounts safeguard their savings through precious metals.
If you’re concerned about what the rising national debt could mean for your future, now is the time to act.
Read this 3-minute report titled, “Debt Will Hit $40T in 2026: Prepare Your Retirement Now“ and learn the simple steps you can take to protect your retirement.