TLDR
- President Trump plans to host El Salvador’s President Bukele at the White House in April 2023
- This would make Bukele the first Western Hemisphere leader to receive a formal White House visit under Trump’s administration
- The visit follows Bukele’s agreement to detain hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members deported from the US
- Bukele made Bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador in 2021 and holds over 6,100 BTC (worth ~$514 million) in reserves
- Both leaders have expressed pro-Bitcoin positions, with Trump recently establishing a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve
Donald Trump is preparing to welcome El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to the White House next month. The meeting would make Bukele the first leader from the Western Hemisphere to receive a formal White House visit during Trump’s current term.
The planned visit comes after Bukele agreed to detain hundreds of alleged Venezuelan gang members deported from the United States. This cooperation aligns with Trump’s border security and immigration enforcement priorities.
No date has been officially set for the meeting. Plans could still change, according to sources familiar with the matter who asked not to be identified.
Bukele has worked to strengthen ties with Trump in recent months. In February, he offered to accept deported criminals of any nationality from the US for an undisclosed fee during a visit from Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Earlier this month, El Salvador accepted more than 200 alleged members of the Venezuelan Tren de Aragua gang who were expelled from the US. This deportation case has created legal challenges.
A federal trial judge ordered a temporary block on the deportations. Trump has asked the US Supreme Court to allow his administration to resume deporting the alleged gang members without hearings.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently filmed a video at El Salvador’s Terrorism Confinement Center. This prison is the largest jail in the Western Hemisphere.
The two leaders have maintained communication since Trump took office. They held a phone conversation shortly after Trump’s inauguration to discuss collaboration on fighting illegal immigration and transnational gangs.
Bukele has drawn attention for his strict approach to crime. His crackdown on gang violence has led to major reductions in crime rates across El Salvador.
Bitcoin Bros?
Beyond security matters, both leaders share an interest in Bitcoin. Bukele made history in 2021 when El Salvador became the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender alongside the US dollar.
El Salvador now holds 6,129 Bitcoin in its national reserves. This cryptocurrency stash is currently valued at approximately $514 million, according to Arkham data.
Trump has also shown support for Bitcoin. On March 6, he signed an executive order to establish a US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, which will be funded by federally-owned Bitcoin.
In January, Bukele expressed optimism about Trump’s return to the presidency. He stated that Trump’s administration would likely adopt policies favorable to Bitcoin, potentially leading to an “exponential revaluation” of the cryptocurrency.
Bukele has been actively pursuing technological advancement in El Salvador. Earlier this month, he met with venture capital leaders Ben Horowitz and Marc Andreessen to discuss technology and artificial intelligence investment opportunities.
The Salvadoran president also met with Michael Saylor, Executive Chairman of Strategy, in February to discuss Bitcoin. These meetings reflect Bukele’s efforts to position El Salvador as a regional tech hub.
Bukele’s connections to Trump extend beyond official channels. He was among the invitees to Trump’s inauguration, while Donald Trump Jr. attended Bukele’s inauguration in June 2023. Bukele also spoke at the CPAC gathering near Washington last February.
While Bitcoin may be discussed during the upcoming White House meeting, other issues like regional security, immigration policy, and US-El Salvador relations are expected to be central topics of conversation.
