Trump calls Sen Chris Van Hollen a 'grandstander' over El Salvador trip to meet Kilmar Abrego Garcia

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump mocked Maryland’s Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen for flying to El Salvador to meet with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was apparently mistakenly deported from the US. 

Hollen went to the Central American country on Wednesday, April 16, to advocate for Garcia’s return to the US. After the Maryland politician finally met with Garcia on Thursday, April 17, the 78-year-old commander-in-chief took to his Truth Social platform to ridicule the Democrat.

Donald Trump calls Chris Van Hollen a 'grandstander' for visiting El Salvador to meet Kilmar Abrego Garcia

Chris Van Hollen shared a photo from his meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia on X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, "I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return."

However, Van Hollen’s stance on Garcia, who was deported in March, did not sit well with the president.

In his Truth Social post, Trump wrote, "Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention from the Fake News Media, or anyone," before adding, "GRANDSTANDER!!!"

Trump’s direct criticism of Van Hollen’s meeting with Garcia came on the heels of the White House’s post highlighting the purported difference in attitude of the Republicans and the Democrats regarding illegal immigrants.

Sharing the picture of Van Hollen with Garcia along with Trump meeting with Patty Morin, mother of slain Maryland woman Rachel Morin, the official account wrote, "We are not the same."

El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele also threw shade at Van Hollen and Garcia's meeting.

Sharing multiple pictures from Van Hollen’s meeting, he wrote, "Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the ‘death camps’ & ‘torture,' now sipping margaritas with Sen Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!"

In the photos he shared, the duo can be seen conversing at a dinner table over drinks.

Nevertheless, an anonymous source told the New York Times that the photo was entirely not true as a staffer for Bukele "placed the two glasses with cherries and salted rims on the table in front of Mr Van Hollen and Mr Abrego Garcia in the middle of their meeting in an attempt to stage the photo," per OK! Magazine.

Van Sollen was initially blocked from meeting Garcia by Salvadoran authorities, but later government officials helped facilitate a meeting between them.

The Trump administration was ordered by the Supreme Court to facilitate the return of Garcia to the US after he was sent to the El Salvadoran megaprison Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) last month.

Nevertheless, the Trump administration has stood firm on its decision and accused the Maryland man of being a member of the violent MS-13 gang and beating his wife. 

Garcia's attorney, however, shared in court documents that he "has no criminal history. He has never been charged or convicted of any criminal charges, in the United States, El Salvador, or any other country."

Attorney General Pam Bondi said on Wednesday, "He is not coming back to our country," and added, "President Bukele said he was not sending him back. That’s the end of the story."

Internet agrees as Donald Trump bashes Chris Van Hollen for visiting El Salvador

Social media erupted in support of Donald Trump after he criticized Sen Chris Van Hollen for traveling to El Salvador to meet Kilmar Abrego Garcia. 

One said, "The American people would love to know how he got approved to use the American tax dollars to go over there. Can I just spend whatever they like and get paid back that’s not right things like that I’d be approved by somebody."

Another added, "Sad day in America when the Democrats stand united with criminal illegals over the American people."

"Senator Van Hollen and the Democrats have no policies to help the country, so they're defending MS-13 in hopes of continuing to dominate the news. What else do they have?" asked an enraged individual. 

One more wrote, "The democrats are shockingly insane. Thank you President Trump for supporting Patty & Rachel Moran & their family.."

"He is a sorry excuse for a senator," expressed a disgruntled netizen, calling out Van Hollen. 

"Wasting our US taxes, you're the only person that could handle the terrorist, Van Hollen is trying to play President, a Senator has no business trying to bring back a terrorist himself," another comment read. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.