White House Mocked for Glaring ‘Colombia’ Misspelling Amid Escalating Trade Tensions
Donald Trump gives his inaugural address inside the Capitol as he is sworn in for a second term as US president (Reuters: Chip Somodevilla)
President Donald Trump’s White House faced widespread mockery on Sunday after releasing a statement that included a glaring misspelling. The controversy erupted as Trump, in a surprise weekend move, escalated tensions over migrant flights.
Following reports of flights being redirected, Trump retaliated by imposing tariffs on an ally, who reciprocated. Experts have warned the tit-for-tat measures could ignite a trade war. Amid the unfolding events, the White House issued an official press release referring to Trump’s Truth Social post.
However, the document misspelled “Colombia” as “Columbia,” confusing the South American nation with the Ivy League university in New York. The error quickly drew backlash. Journalist Aaron Rupar sarcastically remarked, “I’m more of a North Face guy, but this seems a bit extreme.”
Critics of Trump seized on the gaffe. “Trump’s White House misspelled ‘Colombia’ as ‘Columbia’… confusing the country with the University in an official announcement,” one Republican opposed to Trump wrote, punctuating the comment with a clown emoji.
Jeff Stein, a White House economics reporter for The Washington Post, quipped, “I know Barron is going to NYU, but it seems like a little much.” A.J. Delgado, a former Trump campaign aide, expressed her frustration.
“Did a WHITE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE really misspell Colombia? I remember how much I had to proofread and correct BASIC mistakes in drafts by others on the 2016 Campaign, but this is… wow,” she tweeted, later adding, “Only the dumbest of the dumb work in this White House.”
The error even drew commentary from internet personalities. Popular figure Three Year Letterman tweeted, “I can’t top this,” while an account known for tracking Trump’s falsehoods clarified the confusion: “Columbia is a university in New York City. Colombia is the country Donald Trump threatened today.”
The same account took aim at the administration, writing, “But talk to us about how competence is back in the White House.” DNC delegate Christopher Hale joined the criticism, highlighting the controversy surrounding White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, who recently disclosed over $300,000 in unpaid campaign debts — including approximately $200,000 from illegal contributions — can’t spell Colombia,” Hale wrote.
The White House has yet to comment on the misspelling, but the incident has added fuel to the ongoing debate over the administration’s professionalism. Critics argue that such mistakes, however minor, undermine the credibility of official communications during a time of heightened global tensions.
