El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele Expresses Interest in Meeting with President Trump
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has expressed interest in meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House, signaling a potential deepening of relations between the two leaders, with a particular focus on cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. While there are no official plans announced yet, such a meeting would mark the first visit by a Western Hemisphere leader to the White House during Trump’s current term.
On March 28, Bukele indicated in response to rumors that he would be open to an invitation to visit Washington, demonstrating his good humor by mentioning on social media that he would bring “several cans of Diet Coke” — a reference to Trump’s favorite soft drink. Since Trump’s return to power, the two have maintained a friendly relationship. Trump publicly thanked Bukele earlier this year for his support on U.S. border issues, noting Bukele’s “understanding of this terrible situation.”
JUST IN: President Trump will be hosting El Salvador President Nayib Bukele at the White House next month
El Salvador has proven to be one of our BEST allies, taking in HUNDREDS of deported Tren de Aragua gang members to imprisonment. @nayibbukele deserves this recognition more…
pic.twitter.com/kRXbKoLBIk — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) March 28, 2025
This potential meeting comes after El Salvador’s decision to take in Venezuelan gang members deported from the US who are being held at the country’s Terrorist Confinement Center, a facility recently visited by US Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem.
Bukele’s tough anti-gang policy has received both praise and criticism internationally. His strategy has helped transform El Salvador from one of the most violent countries in the world to one of the safest in Latin America.
Meanwhile, speculation is mounting that Bitcoin could be central to future talks between the two presidents. Both Bukele and Trump are known to support Bitcoin, albeit with different strategies. Bukele took a bold and early leadership position, while Trump has recently changed his stance on the cryptocurrency.
In 2021, Bukele led El Salvador to establish the world’s first national Bitcoin reserve. The reserve currently stands at 6.130,18 BTC, valued at over $512 million. His administration has also caught the attention of major cryptocurrency companies like Tether and attracted global investment thanks to its crypto-friendly environment.
Trump, who was previously skeptical of Bitcoin, has recently embraced it. Earlier this month, he approved the formation of a US National Bitcoin Reserve. The federal government now reportedly holds around 200.000 BTC, indicating a new approach to cryptocurrency policy under his leadership.
A meeting between Bukele and Trump would reflect not only a political friendship but also a shared vision on the role of Bitcoin in the national economic strategy. With both leaders actively promoting crypto at the state level, such a potential meeting could highlight a growing alignment on digital currency policy between the U.S. and El Salvador.