Colombian President's removal of works from museum sparks protests

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella announced that he launched a cultural 'counter-revolution,' removing dozens of works found in the National Museum in Bogota. Known for his conservative identity and close ties to U.S. President Donald Trump, de la Espriella defended this step as an effort to prevent cultural institutions from being taken over by 'atheist social communism.'

De la Espriella's intervention against the works in the museum sparked discussions by being compared to U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to reshape the ways history is presented in museums. The decision in question created a widespread resonance in museum management and artistic circles.

Reacting to the decision, university students protested the situation by holding an open-air class in front of the National Museum in Bogota on Wednesday, October 21, 2026. The students evaluated the intervention into the museum collection as a cultural restriction.