El Salvador's Nayib Bukele Could Meet Trump as Bitcoin Interests Align
El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele has hinted at an upcoming visit by US President Donald Trump to the White House. The move has fueled speculation about closer cooperation between the two Bitcoin-friendly leaders.
While no official agenda has been announced, if confirmed, the meeting would mark Bukele as the first Western Hemisphere leader to visit Trump at the White House during his current term.
Can Bitcoin Improve Diplomatic Relations Between the US and El Salvador?
On March 28, Bukele responded to a report claiming that Trump planned to invite him to Washington.
Responding on social media, Bukele confirmed his willingness to visit and joked that he would bring “a couple of Diet Cokes” — a nod to Trump’s famous beverage of choice.
The two leaders have had a friendly relationship since Trump returned to office. They reportedly spoke after the inauguration, and Trump later publicly thanked Bukele, praising his “understanding of this terrible situation” regarding US border issues.
Meanwhile, the possible visit comes after El Salvador accepted Venezuelan gang members who were deported from the US.
These individuals are held at the country’s high-security Terrorist Detention Center, which was recently visited by US Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
President Bukele’s administration has received international praise and criticism for its tough stance on crime. His crackdown on gangs has transformed El Salvador from one of the most violent countries in the world to one of the safest in Latin America.
Meanwhile, speculation is growing in the crypto community that Bitcoin could emerge as a key topic in the leaders’ discussions. Both Bukele and Trump have publicly supported Bitcoin, although their approaches differ slightly.
Bukele’s stance on Bitcoin is notably proactive. In 2021, he spearheaded the creation of the world’s first national Bitcoin reserve, which has since grown to 6,130.18 BTC — worth over $512 million.
Furthermore, his pro-Bitcoin initiatives have attracted significant foreign investments, including partnerships with prominent crypto companies like Tether.
President Trump has also recently become more supportive of the leading crypto asset, reversing earlier skepticism.
Earlier this month, Trump authorized the creation of the United States National Bitcoin Reserve, with the federal government holding approximately 200,000 BTC initially.