During a recent political podcast appearance, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD) issued a pointed message to international leaders, warning of potential consequences should they align themselves with former President Donald Trump. His remarks specifically targeted El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, following Bukele’s decision to defy a U.S. court ruling involving an undocumented immigrant. Raskin emphasized that a future Democratic administration would not overlook such alliances and suggested there would be political repercussions for countries that support what he described as authoritarian tendencies within the United States.
The situation centers on Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an undocumented individual who had been living in Maryland. Although a U.S. court barred his deportation in 2019, he was nonetheless removed to El Salvador, where he is now imprisoned. Despite a subsequent Supreme Court ruling that mandated federal action to bring him back, President Bukele made it clear during a meeting with Trump that El Salvador has no intention of repatriating Abrego Garcia to the U.S. This defiance sparked concern among Democrats, who see it as a troubling precedent involving foreign cooperation with American domestic politics.
Tommy Vietor, host of “Pod Save America” and a former Obama administration official, raised the stakes by suggesting that Democrats should consider punitive measures against foreign governments participating in actions like extraordinary rendition. These could include diplomatic sanctions or the withdrawal of aid. Raskin responded favorably to the idea, arguing that the U.S. must take a stronger stance in defending global democratic principles. He advocated for deeper collaboration with democratic governments worldwide as a way to push back against what he perceives as growing authoritarianism, both at home and abroad.
Raskin was particularly firm in his assertion that future Democratic leadership would remember the actions of international partners who align with Trump-era policies. He stressed that such cooperation is not just a political disagreement—it represents, in his view, a fundamental threat to the U.S. Constitution. The congressman framed the issue not merely as a matter of diplomacy but as a moral and legal struggle to preserve democratic norms in the face of creeping autocracy. His tone underscored the seriousness with which he views this international political dynamic.
Unsurprisingly, Raskin’s comments provoked swift backlash from Republican figures. Richard Grenell, a close Trump ally and former ambassador, mocked Raskin’s warning by implying Democrats still haven’t come to terms with past political defeats. Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) added that Democrats are unlikely to regain power anytime soon, dismissing Raskin’s statements as political posturing. The exchange highlights the deepening divide between the parties not only on domestic policy but also on how the United States should engage with foreign governments during times of political turmoil.
