President Trump told Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele to "do what you have to do" during a private phone call last week, according to reporting on the conversation by Axios.

The exchange occurred on October 27 as Bukele prepared to expand El Salvador's military presence in Haiti. Bukele sought assurances that the United States had no objections to the operation, which Haitian authorities had approved. Trump expressed solidarity with Bukele over the October 18 ambush that left four Salvadoran aviation technicians missing near Port-au-Prince.

Bukele has already deployed more than 2,000 Salvadoran troops to Haiti, with the total potentially rising to several thousand. The Salvadoran leader has stated his forces can eliminate the gangs responsible for years of violence and instability on the island. He warned that if the missing soldiers are not returned alive, the consequences for the gangs would be severe.

El Salvador is covering most of the operation's costs. Bukele has pointed to his country's success in dramatically reducing gang violence at home as evidence that a similar approach can succeed in Haiti. The deployment comes with support from Haitian officials and some international backing, though the United States has not committed its own troops.

The move represents a shift toward decisive bilateral action rather than prolonged multilateral missions that have yielded limited results in the past. Haitian gangs have terrorized civilians and disrupted governance for years, creating conditions that affect regional stability.

Sources close to the call indicated Bukele expressed confidence in completing the mission despite potential difficulties. White House officials confirmed Trump's expression of support without detailing any formal U.S. military involvement.