El Salvador’s Bukele tells Trump to imprison criminals, claiming it’s the key to liberating America

In a startling exchange at the White House on Monday, El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele delivered a bold message to President Donald Trump: the U.S. must “liberate” 350 million Americans by adopting harsher anti-crime measures. The two leaders discussed strategies to combat escalating crime rates in the U.S., with Bukele emphasizing that the solution lies in cracking down on criminals, not “freeing them.”

“Mr. President, you have 350 million people to liberate,” Bukele told Trump during their Oval Office meeting. The El Salvadoran leader, known for his brutal crackdown on gangs in his own country, drew praise from Trump for transforming his nation’s reputation. Bukele proudly claimed that El Salvador, once dubbed the “murder capital of the world,” had become “the safest country in the Western Hemisphere,” all thanks to his harsh anti-crime measures. But the message he delivered to the U.S. was clear: imprison criminals and liberate millions.

The conversation quickly turned to the issue of violent crime in America, with Trump echoing his disdain for the Biden administration’s policies. Trump critiqued the “catch-and-release” border approach, which he believes allowed dangerous criminals into the country. Bukele’s response, however, was more chilling. He argued that the only way to reduce crime was by ensuring criminals were imprisoned and kept off the streets, further intensifying his calls for deportations to his country’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center or CECOT.

The collaboration between Trump’s administration and Bukele has been controversial, with the U.S. continuing to send alleged gang members, including those affiliated with the Tren de Aragua, to El Salvador. This marked the beginning of a complex and uncomfortable partnership between the two leaders, as Trump positioned Bukele as a model for how the U.S. could eradicate its own criminal crisis.

The topic of women’s rights was also raised during the meeting, with Trump questioning Bukele about the controversial issue of biological men competing in women’s sports. In a moment of agreement, Bukele condemned such actions as “violence” and “abuse of women,” aligning himself with Trump’s views on the matter. The exchange further underscored the alliance between the two conservative leaders.

Trump, ever the provocateur, also took aim at the Democratic Party, claiming that their policies led to an influx of criminals, terrorists, and mental health patients crossing the southern border unchecked. He vowed to reverse the damage caused by the Biden administration’s open-border policies, citing concerns over national security.

In an unexpected twist, Trump suggested that the U.S. might even send some of its own citizens, particularly those convicted of violent crimes, to El Salvador as part of this sweeping anti-crime initiative. “As bad as anybody that comes in,” he said of the criminals in question. Trump noted that his Justice Department was still evaluating the legality of such a measure, but the prospect of exporting American citizens to face punishment in El Salvador is a chilling one.

While the partnership between Bukele and Trump promises aggressive actions on crime, its long-term implications remain to be seen. The idea of exporting criminals and even U.S. citizens to El Salvador’s prison system, notorious for its brutal conditions, raises significant human rights concerns. Nevertheless, the two leaders seem intent on pushing forward with their controversial plans, convinced that they can bring an end to what they see as an out-of-control criminal crisis in America.