Sen. Chris Van Hollen’s (D-MD) trip to El Salvador to fight for the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia was never a good idea. But it became just plain ridiculous after the Trump administration released a series of damning revelations about Abrego Garcia’s past while Van Hollen was en route.
First, the administration dropped documents showing that Abrego Garcia’s wife had sought restraining orders against him not once, but twice, citing abusive behavior.
Second, records from the Department of Homeland Security revealed that Abrego Garcia had been “stopped for driving erratically and speeding by a Tennessee state trooper in late November 2022 and was found to be driving an SUV full of people coming from Texas with an expired Maryland license.”
The officer suspected him of involvement in human trafficking/smuggling and referred the case to DHS. The Biden administration’s DHS either failed to follow up on the referral or neglected to document any of its efforts—most likely the former.
Just the News editor John Solomon reported he had reviewed a separate document which read: “Vehicle is used by HSI Baltimore target in human smuggling/trafficking operation. Vehicle makes trips to southern border to pick up noncitizens.” The memo said that if this vehicle is encountered, the case agent should be notified.
Finally, at a Wednesday afternoon White House press briefing, press secretary Karoline Leavitt reported on two of Abrego Garcia’s previous arrests. Notably, Leavitt had dispensed with the word “alleged” and simply stated that he was an MS-13 member.
As Mary reported last night, after multiple denials, Van Hollen was finally granted a visit with Abrego Garcia on Thursday evening. Following their meeting, Van Hollen posted a photo on X and wrote: “I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. 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.”
Clearing trolling the senator, El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele had a much different take on the meeting.
Conservatives seized on the photos of the two men “sipping margaritas,” sparking a wave of ridicule across social media.
Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) asked if Van Hollen represented Maryland or MS-13?
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) joked, “Find someone who looks at you the way Democrat senators look at illegal alien MS-13 gang members….”
Naturally, CNN political analyst Scott Jennings weighed in: “Party of Women really covering itself in glory tonight.”
And conservative media analyst Joe Concha pointed out the obvious writing, “Your preview of both a 2026 and 2028 GOP campaign ad photo.”
This photo will feature prominently in Republican attack ads next year.
Perhaps one of the most brutal responses of all came from the White House. The post showed the photo of Van Hollen and Abrego Garcia next to one of Patty Morin, the mother of Rachel Morin, a 37-year-old mother of five who was raped and killed at the hands of a depraved illegal alien during a 2023 jog on a Maryland hiking trail, meeting with President Trump. After recounting her terrible story at a Wednesday White House press briefing, Patty stopped by the Oval Office where she was warmly and sympathetically welcomed by the President.
Van Hollen never reached out to Patty’s family following Rachel’s savage death, yet he flew to El Salvador to advocate for the release of Abrego Garcia. The photo says all there really is to say.
Van Hollen made a grave mistake. His photo with the likely MS-13 gang member is political poison for his party. What a foolish unforced error.
Update 7:45 p.m.: Back in Washington, D.C. on Friday, Van Hollen emphasized to reporters that it was President Bukele who set he and Abrego Garcia up with the margaritas. When they first sat down, there were water glasses on the table. After they had been speaking for a while, a government worker came over and deposited two cocktails which he assumed were margaritas. He said the way you can tell that neither of them drank the cocktails was to look at the rims that were coated with salt. If you look at the rims, you would see that there were no gaps in the salt.
“This is a lesson,” he said, “into the lengths that President Bukele will do to deceive people about what’s going on. And it also shows the lengths that the Trump administration, the president, will go. Because when he was asked by a reporter about this, he just went along for the ride.”
Thanks Senator, but I don’t think your little explanation will help you or your party next year.
Elizabeth writes commentary for Legal Insurrection and The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Please follow Elizabeth on X or LinkedIn.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY