- President Bukele’s potential White House visit signals deeper U.S.-El Salvador ties, driven by Bitcoin policy and border cooperation.
- The $6 million deportation deal and shared law-and-order image align Bukele and Trump amid rising crypto diplomacy ambitions.
Washington is bracing for a sensational diplomatic moment. On March 28, 2025, El Salvador is reported to have a potential White House visit in which President Nayib Bukele meets US President Donald Trump. It is not only about politics; it is also about Bitcoin, border deals, and one or two cans of Diet Coke.
I’ll be bringing several cans of Diet Coke. https://t.co/fuBAJDqXes
— Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) March 28, 2025
In response to a lighthearted tweet from Bukele, no official program schedule has been published yet. Eliciting a hint at the course of his upcoming journey, Bukele jested by saying, “bringing several cans of Diet Coke” — a reference to Trump’s consistent liking of the beverage.
Bukele would be the first leader from the Western Hemisphere to meet with Trump at the White House since his re-entry into the political arena. Meanwhile, the two already have some diplomatic trust due to their earlier call and U.S. cooperation on the border issue.
At the beginning of March 2025, he instructed to establish a U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The decision did not draw on the financial resources of the taxpayers; rather, it was designed to grow through non-taxation. Looking from this aspect, the administration will become quite different due to the shift of the economic & security factor.
$6 Million Deal and the Shadows of Venezuela
The meeting also arrives on the back of a high-stakes agreement between Washington and San Salvador. In March 2025, El Salvador took in 238 alleged persons belonging to Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua gang and 23 MS-13 affiliates who were deported from the US. The US government spent $6 million on accommodation for the people in the 40,000-detainee Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT).
This collaboration is a key element in the comprehensive U.S.-El Salvador Partnership, with Bukele being the center of global focus for his tough measures against crime. On the one hand, his radical behavior had detractors; on the other hand, it was the very thing that was making him closer to Trump’s law enforcement image.
While the deportation deal forms the backbone of the visit, Bitcoin policy may be the headline. With both leaders presenting themselves as crypto-forward figures, the summit could represent a pivot in digital finance diplomacy.
Eyes on Bitcoin City and Geopolitical Gains
Bukele’s vision doesn’t end with BTC reserves. His long-term dream, “Bitcoin City,” aims to be a tax-free crypto zone powered by volcanic geothermal energy. The project represents El Salvador’s ambition to become a global crypto trailblazer — one volcano at a time.
Back in June 2024, Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., attended Bukele’s inauguration, underlining the deepening relationship. Now, a White House rendezvous could take that bond to a new level — where foreign policy, financial innovation, and personal rapport all converge.
For Bukele, it’s a chance to double down on Bitcoin diplomacy. For Trump, it could offer a preview of how a second term might blend conservative politics with digital finance. The only certainty is that the world — and the market — will be watching.
