Trump Slams 'Fake' Democrat Visit to El Salvador, Calls Abrego-Garcia's Record 'Unbelievably Bad'

Donald Trump didn’t hold back Friday, going after both Kilmar Abrego Garcia and the Democrats who traveled to El Salvador to meet him. The former president described Abrego Garcia’s record as "unbelievably bad," and dismissed Senator Chris Van Hollen’s recent visit as nothing more than a political stunt.

When asked about whether other Democrats should follow Sen. Van Hollen’s lead and visit Abrego Garcia, Trump doubled down. He accused the Democrats of faking their concern for Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident deported to El Salvador in 2022 after entering the U.S. illegally in 2011. Trump’s administration has repeatedly claimed Abrego Garcia is a member of the notorious MS-13 gang.

"They’re all fake, and they have no interest in that prisoner," Trump told reporters at the White House. "That prisoner’s record is unbelievably bad." He made the comments just after swearing in Dr. Mehmet Oz to head Medicare and Medicaid services—yes, that Dr. Oz, in case you’re wondering if politics can get any more reality TV.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s rap sheet is nothing to sneeze at. The Justice Department just released documents detailing domestic violence allegations from his wife, Jennifer Vasquez. In her 2021 court filing, Vasquez claimed Abrego Garcia beat her and included photographic evidence of bruises. She wrote, "At this point, I am afraid to be close to him. I have multiple photos/videos of how violent he can be and all the bruises he (has) left me."

On top of that, a 2022 Homeland Security Investigations report points to Abrego Garcia’s suspected involvement in labor and human trafficking. The report says he was pulled over by Tennessee police, who found eight other people crammed in his car, all on a three-day trip from Texas to Maryland—with no luggage in sight. While the officer ultimately cited him for driving with an expired license, the incident raised serious suspicions about human trafficking.

Homeland Security officials have gone on record calling Abrego Garcia an MS-13 gang member, an illegal alien, and a suspected human trafficker. Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin told Fox News, "The facts reveal he was pulled over with eight individuals in a car on an admitted three-day journey from Texas to Maryland with no luggage. The facts speak for themselves, and they reek of human trafficking."

As for the Democrats, Trump saved some special scorn for Senator Van Hollen, who made headlines after meeting Abrego Garcia in El Salvador. Trump called the senator a "fool" and a "grandstander" in a post on Truth Social, suggesting the trip was just a bid for media attention.

With all the drama and accusations flying, it’s hard not to see this as another episode in the never-ending saga of political posturing meeting real-world criminal allegations. Whether Abrego Garcia returns to the U.S. will depend on ongoing court battles, but one thing’s for sure: this story is a magnet for controversy.