President Donald Trump has extended a personal invitation to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to visit the White House on April 14, according to an announcement made Wednesday. The invitation comes as part of a growing partnership between the two nations focused on immigration control and security cooperation.
“Your support of my efforts to combat illegal immigration is greatly appreciated,” Trump wrote in a letter shared by Bukele on social media platform X. “For far too long, our southern border has been an open door. With the assistance of friends like you, we have made great progress in protecting Americans from illegal border activity.”
The invitation letter, dated April 1, follows El Salvador’s recent acceptance of seventeen alleged Tren de Aragua and MS-13 gang members who were deported from the United States. Bukele shared dramatic footage showing the shackled men being processed into El Salvador’s notorious Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT), a maximum-security prison.
Prison Agreement
Trump specifically praised Bukele’s willingness to house suspected gang members deported from the U.S. in El Salvador’s supermax prison.
“You have shown real leadership and are a model for others seeking to work with the United States,” Trump wrote in the invitation.
The Trump administration has struck a $6 million deal with El Salvador to use the CECOT facility for a year, with approximately 250 suspected gang members having been transferred to the prison since the agreement began. The arrangement focuses on members of groups that the president has designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.
Secretary of Homeland Security Krisi Noem revealed earlier this week that during a recent trip to El Salvador, Bukele indicated willingness to accept more criminal migrants.
“He said, ‘Absolutely, we will. We will take the worst of the worst and make sure that they’re facing consequences for what they’ve done to your country,'” Noem told Fox News.
Also Read: EL Salvador Buys More Bitcoin For Its ReserveÂ
Cryptocurrency Markets React
The announcement of the meeting between the two leaders has had notable repercussions in cryptocurrency markets. Bitcoin’s price surged by 3.2% following the news, reaching $72,450 by 10:15 AM EST on April 3. The impact extended to other cryptocurrencies, with Ethereum rising 1.8% to $3,890 and Litecoin increasing by 2.5% to $215.
El Salvador made history in 2021 by becoming the first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, a move that has been closely watched by cryptocurrency investors and financial markets. Trading volumes for Bitcoin spiked significantly after the announcement, with volume increasing from an average of 1.2 million BTC to 1.8 million BTC within the first hour.
Market analysts suggest that the positive reaction stems from speculation about potential U.S.-El Salvador collaborations that could lead to further adoption and regulatory support for cryptocurrencies.
Deepening Cooperation
JUST IN: 🇺🇸 President Trump invites President Bukele to the White House to discuss “ways we can support each other.” 🇸🇻 pic.twitter.com/Hzo5CE59XU
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) April 3, 2025
In the invitation letter, Trump noted that he hopes to discuss the recent cooperation between the U.S. and El Salvador and “other ways we can support each other.” The upcoming meeting is viewed as a sign of strengthening ties between the two nations, particularly in areas of security and migration management.
The White House visit is scheduled for April 14, and both presidents are expected to focus on expanding their partnership in addressing regional challenges, particularly those related to transnational criminal organizations and migration flows.
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