When strong leaders build walls against chaos, civilization can flourish again. This simple truth was on full display Monday as President Donald Trump welcomed El Salvador President Nayib Bukele to the White House for their first meeting since Trump’s return to office. The leaders discussed strengthening cooperation between their nations and addressing shared challenges, including crime, terrorism, and illegal immigration.
The meeting highlighted the growing alliance between America and El Salvador, a partnership that has already seen hundreds of suspected gang members deported to El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center, known as CECOT. This facility, which houses some of the most dangerous criminals, has been central to Bukele’s strategy in transforming El Salvador from what journalists once called “the murder capital of the world” to “the safest country in the Western Hemisphere.”
Against this backdrop of success, the conversation inevitably turned to the case of Kilmar Abrego García, a Salvadoran national who was recently deported from Maryland to El Salvador. The Biden administration had allowed countless illegal immigrants to stay in the country through catch-and-release policies, but Trump’s team has taken a different approach, sending those identified as dangerous back to their countries of origin.
When reporters asked if El Salvador would return Abrego García to the United States following a Supreme Court ruling that called for steps to “facilitate” his return, Bukele’s response was crystal clear:
From ‘The New York Post’:
“I hope you are not suggesting that I smuggle terrorists into the United States,” Bukele told reporters while sitting alongside President Trump in the Oval Office. “Of course, I’m not going to do it. The question is preposterous. I don’t have the power to return him to the United States.”
Trump’s team stood firmly behind this position. Attorney General Pam Bondi explained, “He was illegally in our country. That’s up to El Salvador if they want to return him. That’s not up to us.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio added, “The foreign policy of the United States is conducted by the president of the United States, not by a court.”
White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller clarified that the only mistake made was by a Justice Department lawyer who incorrectly characterized the deportation as an error in legal filings. “That’s a big fact that all of you, most of you, have gotten wrong,” Miller told reporters. “No one was mistakenly sent anywhere.”
The Trump administration has alleged that Abrego García is “confirmed to be a ranking member of the MS-13 gang by a proven and reliable source,” a claim his family denies. However, immigration court decisions from 2019 denied him bond because “the evidence shows that he is a verified member of MS-13.”
Beyond this particular case, Bukele expressed a broader vision for cooperation with the United States. “Mr. President, you have 350 million people to liberate,” Bukele told Trump. “You cannot just, you know, free the criminals and think crime is going to go down magically. You have to imprison them so you can liberate 350 million Americans that are asking for the end of crime and the end of terrorism, and it can be done.”
The meeting also revealed how deeply the two leaders share traditional values. In one telling exchange, Trump asked Bukele, “Do you allow your men in women’s sports? Do you allow men to box women?” The Salvadoran president replied simply: “That’s violence.” Trump agreed, noting, “That’s abuse of a woman. But we have people that fight to the death because they think men should be able to play in women’s sports.”
Bukele pointed out the irony that women’s rights movements once fought for laws protecting women from men, yet “the same people are trying to backtrack.” He added that many of his Cabinet members are women, joking they’re “not DEI hires or anything” – a statement that drew appreciation from Trump, who highlighted his own powerful female appointees.
It’s refreshing to see two leaders speak with such clarity and common sense. For far too long, America has been hamstrung by judicial activism and liberal policies that put the rights of criminals ahead of the safety of citizens. Trump and Bukele understand what many everyday Americans already know – you cannot build a safe society while releasing dangerous criminals onto the streets.
The Left would have us believe that following a court order to return a suspected MS-13 gang member is more important than protecting our communities. They’re wrong. A nation that cannot control who enters its borders isn’t a nation at all. Trump’s firm stance reminds us that presidential authority in foreign policy matters isn’t just a legal principle – it’s essential for keeping Americans safe.
As this partnership continues to grow, one thing is certain: After years of dangerous open borders under Biden, America is returning to sanity under Trump’s leadership. And that’s something every patriot can celebrate.
Sources: New York Post, Fox News, NBC News
