Trump slams ‘grandstander’ Dem senator for meeting with alleged MS-13 gang member Kilmar Abrego Garcia: ‘This is a violent person’
WASHINGTON — President Trump ripped Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen as a “joke” Friday after he was seen allegedly “sipping margaritas” with reputed MS-13 gangbanger Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador — as the White House blasted the sit-down as “disgusting.”
“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. GRANDSTANDER!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social Friday morning.
Trump doubled down during an early-afternoon event in the Oval Office — calling attention to allegations that Abrego Garcia repeatedly beat his wife and detailing evidence of his membership in the notorious gang.
“That prisoner’s record is unbelievably bad,” the president said.
“They call him ‘the Maryland man.’ He’s a ‘Maryland father’. No, this is a violent person … They talk about this guy like he’s an angel.”
Reading from notes, Trump recited: “Two separate judges affirmed Abrego Garcia was a member of MS-13. When [he] was originally arrested [in 2019], he was wearing a sweatshirt with rolls of money pouring out and an MS-13 gang symbol … he was driving with two other known violent MS-13 gang members.”
“In 2022, Garcia was stopped by the Tennessee Highway Patrol and was found to be transporting seven people from Texas to Maryland, and he had no driver’s license,” Trump went on.
“In 2020, and 2021, Garcia’s wife filed for a protective order from him and said he was violent and abusive and really scary, including allegations that he punched and scratched her on the eye, left her bleeding after throwing her laptop on the floor at her, ripped her shirt and ripped off her shorts. He then grabbed her arm, leaving very severe marks. Garcia’s wife also wrote in court at this point, ‘I am afraid to be close to him … I have multiple photos and videos of how violent he can be.’
“This is the man that the Democrats are wanting us to fly back from El Salvador to be a happily ensconced member of the USA family, Isn’t it a shame?”
Trump’s diatribe came after El Salvador President Nayib Bukele on Thursday shared snaps of the senator lounging with Abrego Garcia — who was removed to El Salvador’s notorious megaprison last month — as his high-profile deportation battle rages on.
The White House also took aim at Van Hollen over the visit.
“Chris Van Hollen has firmly established Democrats as the party whose top priority is the welfare of an illegal alien MS-13 terrorist,” the White House said in a statement to The Post.
“It is truly disgusting. President Trump will continue to stand on the side of law-abiding Americans.”
Bukele, who said earlier this week that he has no intention of returning Abrego Garcia to the US, accused the duo of “sipping margaritas” during their meet up.
Van Hollen, too, shared the images on social media, saying his main goal had been to meet with Abrego Garcia.
“Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return,” he said in an X post.
The Salvadoran migrant was living in Maryland with his wife and children when he was shipped off with 260 other reputed gang members to the megaprison last month.
Abrego Garcia, who left El Salvador at age 16, was granted a protective order in 2019 to continue living in the US and has never been charged with or convicted of any crime.
The US Supreme Court has since ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcia’s return from his native El Salvador after Washington acknowledged he was deported due to an administrative error.
Amid the public battle over his case, US Attorney General Pam Bondi released documents Wednesday alleging Abrego Garcia was an active MS-13 member in 2019 and held the rank of “Chequeo” and the street name “Chele” within the violent international gang.
His lawyers, though, have denied the Justice Department’s allegation that he is a member of the criminal gang MS-13. Despite admitting the “clerical error” in Abrego Garcia’s deportation, the White House has insisted he should remain in El Salvador.
