President Trump welcomed El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to the White House today, praising their strong partnership in fighting gangs and securing borders. The two leaders shook hands outside the Oval Office, highlighting their shared goal of stopping violent criminals from entering the U.S.
Trump called Bukele a “brave defender of sovereignty” who has locked up thousands of gang members in El Salvador’s prisons. He thanked Bukele for taking in deportees from the U.S., calling them “terrorists” and “barbarians” who threaten American families. The Trump administration has sent hundreds of alleged gang members to El Salvador’s high-security prisons under a new deportation strategy.
The meeting came after the Supreme Court ordered the U.S. government to help bring back a Maryland man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador. Trump said the courts have no authority over foreign policy, stressing that El Salvador alone decides who stays in its prisons. He called the deportation flights a success, saying they protect communities from “invaders” linked to gangs like MS-13.
Bukele’s tough-on-crime policies have made him popular with conservatives. He has arrested over 85,000 people in El Salvador, slashing murder rates. Trump praised this approach, saying American cities should follow El Salvador’s example. He floated the idea of sending U.S. criminals to Salvadoran prisons, calling it a “common-sense solution” to overcrowded jails.
Critics argue the deportations bypass due process, but Trump dismissed these concerns. He said Bukele’s government thoroughly vets detainees and only holds “the worst of the worst.” The two leaders also discussed cutting tariffs to boost trade, framing it as a win for both economies.
Bukele’s visit strengthens a key alliance in Central America. Trump highlighted their joint efforts to stop illegal immigration, contrasting it with what he called the “open borders” of previous administrations. The Oval Office meeting ended with upbeat remarks about future cooperation, signaling more deportations and shared security strategies ahead.
