Key Takeaways
- Trump and Bukele's April 14 meeting did not address Bitcoin policy.
- Trump proposed sending U.S. convicts to expanded prisons in El Salvador.
- El Salvador holds over 6,100 BTC despite IMF pressure to scale back.
U.S. President Donald Trump hosted El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele at the White House on April 14, but Bitcoin — a major policy point for both leaders — was notably absent from public discussions.
The meeting instead prioritized bilateral security and immigration.
Trump proposed transferring U.S. citizens convicted of crimes to prisons in El Salvador, suggesting that the Central American country expand its prison capacity.
Trump remarked, according to a livestream shared by Bukele’s office:
I said homegrowns are next, the homegrowns. You gotta build about five more places.
Since Trump took office for his second term, the administration has deported hundreds of alleged criminals to El Salvador under a $6 million bilateral agreement.
Trade relations & auto industry
Trade tensions were also discussed, with Trump referencing the April 2 trade measures his administration enacted. He floated the idea of a temporary exemption for automakers to ease the shift of supply chains.
Trump said:
I’m looking at something to help some of the car companies with it.
He also noted that, in order to relocate production, the U.S. auto industry…
… needs a little bit of time.
Bitcoin’s notable absence
Despite both leaders promoting Bitcoin in their countries — El Salvador made it legal tender in 2021 and the U.S. formed a strategic reserve under Trump’s March 6 executive order — no mention of Bitcoin was made during this visit.
El Salvador currently holds 6,147.18 BTC, worth approximately $520.7 million, though its recent $1.4 billion loan deal with the IMF requires reduced public sector involvement in Bitcoin initiatives.
