In 2025, President Donald Trump consistently offered high praise for El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, describing him as “one hell of a President” and a “great friend”. During a high-profile White House meeting on April 14, 2025, Trump commended Bukele’s aggressive anti-crime measures, stating that he is doing a “fantastic job.”
Key Areas of Praise and Cooperation in 2025
- Crime and Security: Trump praised Bukele for transforming El Salvador from the “murder capital of the world” into what Bukele described as the safest country in the Western Hemisphere. Trump specifically lauded Bukele’s willingness to “stop crime” and called his leadership a model for other nations in the region.
- Deportation Partnership: A central pillar of their relationship is Bukele’s cooperation with the Trump administration’s mass deportation strategy. Bukele has accepted hundreds of alleged gang members deported from the U.S. into El Salvador’s maximum-security prison system (CECOT).
- “Homegrown” Criminals: During their April meeting, Trump suggested that the U.S. should consider sending its own “homegrown” violent criminals to El Salvador’s prisons, jokingly telling Bukele to “build about five more places” because current facilities were “not big enough”.
- Ideological Alignment: The two leaders have bonded over shared criticism of the media and progressive policies. Trump marveled at Bukele’s youthful appearance, calling him a “young man” who “looks like a teenager,” while Bukele praised Trump as the “leader of the free world”.
Controversies
- Deportation Errors: The relationship has faced scrutiny over the mistaken deportation of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident. Despite a U.S. Supreme Court order to facilitate his return, Bukele has refused to release him, a stance Trump appeared to support during their joint appearance.
Human Rights Concerns: While international organizations have criticized El Salvador’s prison conditions and lack of due process, Trump has dismissed these concerns, stating he “doesn’t see it” and that Bukele is handling problems the U.S. could not easily manage due to costs.
