Washington, D.C. – El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele met with U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office today, marking a high-profile visit focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation on immigration enforcement, gang crackdowns, and regional security. The meeting, which drew significant attention, underscored the growing alliance between the two leaders amid controversial deportation policies.
The discussions centered on El Salvador’s role in housing migrants deported from the U.S., particularly in its notorious CECOT mega-prison, which has been used to detain alleged gang members, including those sent from the United States. Trump praised Bukele’s tough-on-crime approach, calling him a “fantastic leader” who is “helping us solve problems at a low cost.” Bukele, in turn, highlighted his country’s transformation into the “safest in the Western Hemisphere” due to his aggressive anti-gang policies.
A key point of contention during the meeting was the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador despite a U.S. Supreme Court order to facilitate his return. Bukele firmly stated he had no intention of releasing Garcia, describing the request as “preposterous” and asserting that El Salvador would not “smuggle terrorists” into the U.S. Trump appeared to deflect responsibility, emphasizing Bukele’s autonomy in the matter while expressing support for deporting “as many criminals as possible” to El Salvador.
The leaders also touched on trade, tariffs, and El Salvador’s embrace of Bitcoin, with Trump expressing interest in exploring similar financial innovations. Outside the White House, demonstrators, including Garcia’s family, protested, demanding his return and criticizing the lack of due process in recent deportations.
The meeting, which included a handshake and brief remarks to the press, highlighted the deepening partnership between the Trump administration and Bukele’s government, though it raised concerns among human rights groups about the implications of El Salvador’s prison system and mass deportation policies. As Bukele departed, Trump called the talks “tremendously productive,” signaling further collaboration ahead.
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