Presidents Donald Trump and Nayib Bukele Share a Taste for Strongman-Style Politics

Controversial Deportation Agreement

President Donald Trump today hosted El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, the self-described “world’s coolest dictator” who is now the US leader’s key ally in a controversial push to deport illegal migrants to a notorious Salvadoran prison. The meeting comes as the White House faces pressure over the case of a father who was mistakenly deported to the jail in the Central American country – whose return a US court has ordered the Trump administration to facilitate.

As Trump welcomed Bukele outside the West Wing, the US president didn’t answer when asked if he would request the return of the man, Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Bukele, known for his stylish dress sense and social media savviness, is broadly popular at home for clamping down on once rampant drug gangs that terrorised El Salvador. However, the 43-year-old Salvadoran leader is accused of overseeing mass human rights violations, epitomised by a huge, brutal prison known as Cecot.

The Deportation Program

Shortly after Trump’s inauguration for a second term, Bukele made the extraordinary offer to take in prisoners from the US. Trump took the Salvadoran leader up on his proposal, sending more than 250 migrants there after invoking a rarely used wartime law dating to 1798, which stripped the deportees of due process. Slickly produced footage of their arrival – including chained and tattooed men having their heads shaved and being frog-marched by masked guards – was widely promoted by both the Salvadoran and US governments.

The Trump administration contends that the migrants are members of criminal gangs designated by the US as terrorist organisations, including El Salvador’s MS-13 and Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua. However, relatives of several of the men contend they have no connection to organised crime and in some cases had been swept up simply because they had tattoos unrelated to any gang activity.

Administrative Error

The expulsion to El Salvador of Abrego Garcia has set off a major legal crisis, after the Trump administration admitted he had been deported in an “administrative error”. A federal judge ordered the government to “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return to the US, but Trump officials contend he is now solely in Salvadoran custody, leaving the man in legal limbo. Trump’s deputy chief of staff and migration hardliner Stephen Miller brushed off the court order today, telling reporters: “We’re going to continue to send foreign terrorist aliens to El Salvador as well as to many other countries.”

Economic Benefits

Aside from political benefits for both leaders, Bukele says El Salvador has so far been paid US$6 million for taking deportees. Despite the partnership, El Salvador was among the dozens of US trade partners that the Trump administration slapped with 10% tariffs. The US is the main destination for Salvadoran exports. Of the nearly US$6.5 billion in goods exported from El Salvador in 2024, US$2.1 billion went to the US, including clothing, sugar and coffee, according to the central bank.

Strongman-Style Politics

But Trump and Bukele also share a taste for strongman-style politics. Since coming to power in 2019, Bukele has subdued his once gang-plagued nation of about 6 million people, sending his approval ratings soaring. Trump’s immigration policies focused on what he says is the threat of a gang-led crime wave in the US, are meanwhile among his most popular, receiving much higher ratings than on the economy. Bukele sarcastically responded “Oopsie… too late” when the first flights of deportees from the US arrived in March despite a federal judge ordering a halt.

Conclusion

The meeting between Trump and Bukele highlights the complex web of politics and human rights concerns surrounding the deportation of migrants to El Salvador. While both leaders have praised the partnership, the case of Abrego Garcia has raised concerns over the treatment of deportees and the lack of due process. As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen whether the US will continue to send migrants to El Salvador and what the consequences will be for those affected.

FAQs

Q: What is the purpose of the deportation agreement between the US and El Salvador?
A: The agreement aims to deport illegal migrants from the US to a notorious Salvadoran prison, which is overseen by President Nayib Bukele.

Q: What is the background of President Nayib Bukele?
A: Bukele is a 43-year-old Salvadoran leader who has been accused of overseeing mass human rights violations and is known for his stylish dress sense and social media savviness.

Q: Why has the Trump administration been criticized for the deportation program?
A: The program has been criticized for stripping deportees of due process and for the treatment of migrants in the notorious Salvadoran prison.

Q: What are the economic benefits of the deportation program for El Salvador?
A: El Salvador has been paid US$6 million for taking deportees and has also received a 10% tariff reduction on its exports to the US.