# Luis Carlos Rúa Uses White Elephant Suit to Protest Colombian Reconstruction Delays The Colombian senator leverages viral social media activism to demand urgent post-earthquake government action. - **Source:** [TIME](https://time.com/) - **Published:** 2026-10-30 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/d3cca8a9-437f-4aae-bac7-3e18549a1f34 ## Symbolic Protest at Gala Colombian senator Luis Carlos Rúa attended the 2026 TIME100 Next gala in New York City wearing a white elephant suit. This costume serves as a direct reference to his long-term political campaign against wasteful, unfinished public infrastructure projects. His appearance at the October 29 event aimed to capture international attention for domestic issues. ## Five Years of Anonymity Before his recent election to the Colombian Senate, Rúa operated anonymously for five years on Instagram and TikTok. Under the moniker Elefante blanco, he produced videos exposing government mismanagement and abandoned public works. He revealed his true identity just three days before the national vote, successfully transitioning from digital activist to elected official. ## Post-Earthquake Crisis Context Rúa is currently highlighting the lack of reconstruction following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia in August. The disaster resulted in over 200 deaths and 4,000 injuries. According to United Nations data, the event destroyed 9,000 homes and left 45,000 others damaged, yet Rúa claims official recovery efforts have not yet commenced. ## Direct Presidential Confrontation On the red carpet, Rúa issued a public challenge to Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella. He demanded immediate action regarding the rebuilding of cities devastated by the August earthquake. President de la Espriella, who assumed office following a June runoff election, faces mounting pressure from Rúa to prioritize the displaced and unemployed citizens. ## Leveraging Digital Advocacy Rúa advocates for a decentralized approach to political pressure, encouraging global citizens to utilize social media platforms. He suggests that individuals create videos urging the Colombian government to begin reconstruction efforts. By mobilizing international digital support, he hopes to force administrative accountability for the stalled recovery projects currently labeled as white elephants. ## Political Landscape Dynamics The current administration under President Abelardo de la Espriella maintains a conservative stance and previously received backing from U.S. President Donald Trump. Rúa’s transition into the Senate creates a new legislative friction point. His focus remains on the intersection of government inefficiency and the urgent humanitarian needs of the earthquake-affected regions in Colombia. ## Infrastructure and Accountability The term white elephant refers to the massive, unfinished public projects that Rúa has spent years documenting. By linking the current reconstruction delay to this history of mismanagement, he frames the earthquake recovery as the largest such failure in Colombian history. This narrative strategy keeps the focus on systemic government failures rather than just disaster relief. ## Global Visibility Strategy Attending the TIME100 Next gala provided Rúa with a high-profile platform to amplify his domestic grievances to a global audience. By utilizing a recognizable costume and viral tactics, he ensures his message reaches beyond local borders. This strategic use of celebrity-adjacent events highlights the evolving nature of modern political influence and digital-first advocacy. ## Sources covering this story - https://time.com/collection/time100-next-gala/2026/luis-carlos-rua/ — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._