El Salvador President Nayib Bukele will meet former U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday. This comes as the U.S. prepares to deport hundreds of undocumented migrants to El Salvador. The meeting signals growing cooperation between the two leaders.
Bukele Accepts U.S. Migrants
President Bukele has agreed to take in the migrants. Authorities in El Salvador will house them in local prisons. Trump praised this decision on his Truth Social platform. He wrote, “The two countries are working closely together to eradicate terrorist organizations, and build a future of Prosperity.” He added, “They will never threaten or menace our Citizens again!”
Bukele’s Bottle Post Sparks Reaction
Just before he landed in the U.S. on Saturday, Bukele posted a photo of an open bottle on X (formerly Twitter). He captioned it, “It’s real. This ain’t a drill!” Billionaire Elon Musk quickly reacted with a laughing emoji.
Social Media Sees Dig at Europe
Some social media users viewed the post as a swipe at Europe. They linked it to the European Union’s 2019 Single-Use Plastics Directive. This rule requires plastic bottles sold after July 2024 to have tethered caps. Bukele’s uncapped bottle appeared to mock the regulation.
Bukele Has Criticized Europe Before
Bukele has previously taken shots at Europe. In 2024, he said, “You can’t claim the title free world if your people are not even free to walk down the streets.” He also said the continent is “no longer free and is declining.”
U.S. Upgrades El Salvador’s Safety Rating
Earlier this week, the U.S. upgraded El Salvador’s travel safety status. It now ranks higher than many Western European countries. This move shows how the U.S. views El Salvador as a stronger ally under Bukele’s leadership.
Prison Partnership on the Agenda
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt said the two leaders will also discuss prison cooperation. El Salvador’s supermax prison is currently housing gang members from Tren de Aragua and MS-13. Leavitt said, “El Salvador’s cooperation with the United States has become a model for others to work with this administration.”