Joe Scarborough tore into El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele on Morning Joe Friday, blasting him for showing “contempt” for the rule of law in the U.S. and mocking Americans. Scarborough also warned Bukele that his close relationship with President Donald Trump could hurt him if Democrats win big in the 2026 midterms.
Bukele took to social media on Thursday to make fun of Democratic lawmakers. He posted photos of deportee Kilmar Abrego Garcia meeting with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD). Garcia had been deported from the U.S. last month, which the White House later called an “administrative error.” Bukele shared multiple images of Garcia shaking hands with Van Hollen and enjoying drinks and conversation at dinner.
Bukele sarcastically 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!” He was referencing U.S. media’s previous descriptions of the conditions for deportees.
On Friday’s Morning Joe, Scarborough tore into Bukele, saying: “I just think it’s curious that foreign leaders often make the same mistake… somebody gets elected president and everybody in Washington, D.C., for about six months thinks, well, this person is going to be president forever. And we’ve got to move all of our policy.”
He added, “And then about six months in, you’re like: ‘Oh wait, yeah, gravity. Yeah, it still exists. Political gravity still exists.’”
Scarborough then focused on Bukele’s attitude toward the U.S., criticizing his disrespect for the country’s legal system and how he mocked its people. “The contempt the president of El Salvador has for the United States rule of law, the mocking of people in the United States,” Scarborough said.
He also warned that Bukele might regret aligning too closely with Trump. Scarborough pointed out that if Democrats take control in the 2026 midterms, they will have the power to control foreign aid, which includes funding for El Salvador. “It’s as if somebody in El Salvador hasn’t told him that there are going to be elections a year from now,” Scarborough said. “And I think most smart money right now would say Democrats are going to do pretty well. So Democrats will be funding whatever aid El Salvador gets.”
Scarborough wrapped up his critique by highlighting a common mistake among foreign leaders: they misjudge America’s political future. “They have this myopic vision: ‘This is happening in America right now. American media exaggerates. This makes it seem far grimmer or far more, you know, intense than it actually may be. We better put all of our chips on this side of the table.’ And then they find out a year and a half later, they’re dealing with the other party when it comes to funding.”
Scarborough’s words were a sharp reminder to foreign leaders about the political risks of aligning too closely with any one side in America.
Watch the video below from MSNBC.
