Trump says he could seek El Salvadoran man's return with phone call

FILE PHOTO: Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant who lived in the U.S. legally with a work permit and was erroneously deported to El Salvador, is seen wearing a Chicago Bulls hat, in this handout image obtained by Reuters on April 9, 2025. Abrego Garcia Family/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump says he could help return an El Salvadoran man mistakenly deported from Maryland but would not despite court-ordered action, in contrast to his administration's arguments that only El Salvador can act.

Asked about his ability to call up El Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele in an effort to follow the U.S. Supreme Court order to "facilitate" Kilmar Abrego Garcia's return, Trump told ABC News in an interview on Tuesday: "I could."