President Trump welcomed El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to the White House, where the two leaders celebrated their joint efforts to secure America’s southern border. Bukele pointed out the dramatic drop in illegal crossings and asked why the media isn’t reporting these successes. Trump blamed the “Fake News” outlets like CNN, saying they “hate our country” and refuse to share the good news.
The border has seen record-low numbers under Trump’s policies, with mass deportations of violent gang members and criminals. Bukele’s government has taken in hundreds of these individuals, locking them up in El Salvador’s maximum-security prisons. Trump praised this partnership, calling it a “game-changer” for American safety. He said the U.S. is saving money while removing threats like MS-13.
Bukele questioned why the media ignores the facts. “Why are those numbers not in the media?” he asked. Trump responded that liberal networks want to make him look bad, even if it hurts the country. “They’d rather see chaos than admit we’re winning,” Trump said. The two leaders agreed that the press focuses on negativity instead of celebrating victories for law and order.
The meeting also addressed the case of a Maryland man wrongly deported to El Salvador. Bukele refused to send him back, calling him a “terrorist.” Trump’s team admitted the deportation was a mistake but stood by Bukele’s decision. “We trust our allies to handle justice their way,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. Critics argue this undermines American rights, but Trump insists it’s about putting safety first.
Trump and Bukele found common ground on banning men from women’s sports. “Do you allow men to box your women?” Trump asked. Bukele called it “abuse” and vowed to protect women’s spaces. Trump signed an executive order this year keeping biological males out of female athletics. The NCAA has followed suit, aligning with the administration’s push for “common sense” policies.
Legal experts warn that deporting U.S. citizens to foreign prisons could violate the Constitution. Trump brushed this off, saying he’s “studying the laws” to make it happen. Bukele offered to help rehab American criminals in Salvadoran facilities for “less money.” Critics call this dangerous, but Trump says it’s about results, not bureaucracy.
The Supreme Court recently backed Trump’s use of a 200-year-old law to deport gang members. Bukele joked about one court order, saying “Oopsie… too late” when a flight full of deportees landed in El Salvador. This tough approach has made Bukele popular at home, where he’s locked up over 84,000 gang members. Trump called him a “great friend” to America.
The two leaders promised more cooperation, with Trump vowing to “drain the swamp” of illegal immigration. Bukele’s crackdown on gangs has transformed El Salvador from one of the world’s most dangerous countries to a model of security. Trump says the U.S. is next: “We’re taking back our nation, and the fake news can’t stop us.”
