Meetings between President Donald Trump and foreign leaders can be tense or bruising affairs. But when Trump invited Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to the White House in April, it was all smiles as they joked about mass incarceration.
“Sometimes they say that we imprisoned thousands — I like to say that we actually liberated millions,” Bukele told reporters, referring to his so-called war on gangs in El Salvador.
Trump responded glowingly to Bukele’s remarks. “Who gave him that line?” he said. “You think I could use that?” — which drew scattered laughter from the room.
“And in fact, Mr. President, you have 350 million people to liberate,” Bukele responded, in reference to the U.S. population. “To liberate 350 million people, you have to imprison some.” …..more
