During a meeting with El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, President Trump expressed interest in expanding a controversial prison complex to detain both undocumented immigrants and native-born criminals. His comments sparked criticism and fear of a potential authoritarian shift, mirroring past outbursts during his campaign. Observers noted that this reflects a broader disregard for legal directives, particularly following a Supreme Court ruling regarding the return of a wrongfully detained immigrant. Trump's history shows a tendency towards extreme measures, raising concerns about his approach to crime and punishment as he seeks greater power.
As President Donald Trump wound down Monday's Oval Office meeting with El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, he trailed off into a reverie about having Bukele expand the capacity of the brutal COCET prison complex now housing immigrants.
The reporting and commentary that came in the wake of Trump's comments treated them much like one of his bigoted campaign rally outbursts: a deluded foray into authoritarian speculation to rile up the MAGA base.
To point out an illegal scheme arising from a full-blown refusal to honor the unmistakable directive of the highest court in the country is much like complaining about the caliber of the orchestra's performance as the Titanic sank into the North Sea.
There's no reason to think his ascension to maximum power has tempered his wide-ranging blood-and-punishment lust-indeed, quite the contrary.
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