Bitcoin Takes Back Seat as Trump, Bukele Prioritize Trade and Immigration

Bitcoin Sidelined as Trump and Bukele Focus on Trade, Immigration in White House Talks

In a high-profile White House meeting on April 14, U.S. President Donald Trump welcomed El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele to Washington for talks that prioritized trade, immigration, and bilateral security — but noticeably excluded any public discussion of Bitcoin or digital assets.

While both leaders have gained attention for championing pro-Bitcoin policies, their first official engagement during Trump’s second term centered instead on more pressing geopolitical concerns. The meeting was marked by discussions on regional migration issues, a proposal for U.S.-El Salvador prison cooperation, and strategies to navigate the ongoing trade war affecting the global auto industry.

Migration and Security Take Center Stage

In a livestreamed segment shared by Bukele’s office on X (formerly Twitter), President Trump proposed expanding U.S.-El Salvador collaboration in dealing with criminal deportees. He floated the idea of transferring U.S. citizens convicted of crimes to Salvadoran prisons, suggesting that Bukele "build about five more places" to accommodate them.

Source: Nayib Bukele

This follows a $6 million agreement under which hundreds of foreign nationals convicted in the U.S. have already been deported to El Salvador since Trump’s return to office.

Trade War Eases for Automakers

On the trade front, Trump addressed the ramifications of his administration’s new protectionist policies enacted on April 2, which have escalated tensions with major trading partners. He hinted at a possible temporary exemption for automakers, signaling an effort to provide them time to shift supply chains back to the U.S.

“I’m looking at something to help some of the car companies with it,” Trump told reporters. “They need a little bit of time.”

Bitcoin Left Off the Table

Notably absent from the agenda was any mention of Bitcoin, despite it being a cornerstone initiative for both administrations. El Salvador became the world’s first country to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender in 2021, while Trump signed an executive order on March 6 to establish a U.S. Bitcoin strategic reserve, forming part of his broader digital asset policy.

The U.S. government currently holds nearly 198,000 BTC, valued at over $17 billion, largely obtained through asset seizures in high-profile cases such as Silk Road and Bitfinex.

El Salvador Faces IMF Pressure Over Bitcoin

El Salvador’s Bitcoin strategy continues to face external pressure, particularly from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). In December, the country secured a $1.4 billion loan agreement from the IMF that required scaling back Bitcoin-related initiatives and reducing state involvement in crypto.

In response, the Salvadoran Congress amended its Bitcoin legislation in January to align with IMF terms. However, the Bukele administration has persisted with daily BTC purchases. According to the National Bitcoin Office tracker, El Salvador currently holds 6,147.18 BTC, valued at approximately $520.7 million.

Crypto on Pause — For Now

While both Trump and Bukele remain key figures in the global pro-Bitcoin movement, the April 14 summit suggests that for now, traditional diplomacy — not digital currency — is driving their bilateral agenda. Whether Bitcoin returns to the forefront in future talks remains to be seen.