Trump reportedly gave Nayib Bukele the go-ahead to send Salvadoran troops to Haiti
Axios reported that Donald Trump gave Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele approval for a troop deployment to Haiti, telling him, “Do what you have to do.” El Salvador said it would send up to 2,000 troops, with possible expansion; The Haitian Times reported about 2,000 were already in the capital. The mission’s terms, duration and command structure remain unclear.
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Donald Trump reportedly gave Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele the go-ahead to deploy troops to Haiti, according to Axios. Bukele called Trump on Tuesday to ensure Washington would not oppose the operation, which has received approval from Haiti’s government. Trump reportedly told Bukele, “Do what you have to do,” and expressed sympathy for four Salvadoran military personnel missing after a gang ambush in Croix-des-Bouquets on Oct. 18. El Salvador announced Wednesday that it would send up to 2,000 troops, with the possibility of expanding the force. The Haitian Times reported that about 2,000 Salvadoran special forces were already in the capital, with more expected. Bukele wrote on X that El Salvador came to Haiti “to fight against the wicked,” not for payment. The operation’s conditions, duration and chain of command have not been made clear; Haiti’s government has reportedly called it a “bilateral agreement.”
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Verifier’s note
Anadolu Agency and The Haitian Times report that Trump backed Bukele’s deployment, citing or echoing the Axios account. The New York Times independently reports the troop deployment but does not report Trump’s support.