As El Salvador’s President Bukele bolsters his ties with the Trump administration, critics of his government face unprecedented persecution, raising alarms about democracy’s future in this Central American nation.
Key Takeaways
- President Nayib Bukele has secured a constitutionally questionable second term after replacing court magistrates with loyalists who ruled in his favor
- Bukele’s government has detained nearly 80,000 people since 2022 under a state of emergency, with human rights groups documenting at least 240 deaths in custody
- Critics of Bukele’s administration, including journalists, lawyers, and human rights defenders, face persecution with many forced to flee the country
- The Biden administration has softened its criticism of Bukele as El Salvador helped reduce migration to the U.S., while President Trump and his allies have shown strong support
Bukele’s Controversial Second Term
President Nayib Bukele began his second term as El Salvador’s president despite constitutional prohibitions against consecutive reelections. This controversial move was facilitated by a 2021 Constitutional Court ruling that came after Bukele’s allies in the Salvadoran National Assembly removed all five magistrates and replaced them with his supporters. While the mainstream media portrays this as an authoritarian power grab, many conservatives see it as a decisive leader taking necessary steps to secure his nation’s stability and sovereignty against entrenched corruption and criminal elements that had previously ravaged the country.
“Five years ago in this same plaza, I asked you to trust in us and the decisions we are going to take, even if some of them seemed like bitter medicine. The people of El Salvador took the decision to follow the prescription. And together, we have rid ourselves of the gang cancer,” said PRESIDENT NAYIB BUKELE.
Tough-on-Crime Approach Delivers Results
Bukele, who has playfully described himself as the “world’s coolest dictator,” has gained immense popularity for his crackdown on gang violence. His government has detained nearly 80,000 people since 2022 under a state of exception that allows extended detentions. While leftist human rights organizations have criticized the conditions in Salvadoran prisons and alleged violations of due process, the undeniable result has been a dramatic reduction in El Salvador’s once astronomical murder rate, transforming it from one of the world’s most dangerous countries to one of the safest in Latin America.
Crackdown on Critics
The arrest of constitutional lawyer Enrique Anaya on alleged money laundering charges represents what critics claim is part of a broader pattern of targeting dissent. Human rights lawyer Ruth López was also detained, while numerous journalists from the news site El Faro have fled the country fearing arrest. El Faro had published investigations exposing alleged negotiations between Bukele’s administration and gang leaders – allegations the government denies. Many conservative analysts point out that these same “human rights” organizations and media outlets routinely ignore actual human rights abuses in leftist regimes like Venezuela and Cuba.
“We don’t have to applaud everything that they’re doing, but there is a national security interest that should also be balanced,” said Florida Senator Marco Rubio.
Trump Alliance Strengthens Bukele’s Position
President Trump and Bukele have formed a strong alliance, with prominent conservatives including Donald Trump Jr., Matt Gaetz, and Tucker Carlson attending Bukele’s inauguration. This relationship signals a shift in U.S. foreign policy that prioritizes pragmatic results over ideological purity tests often used selectively by progressives. While the leftist media portrays this alliance as emboldening authoritarian tendencies, conservative analysts note that Bukele’s policies have dramatically reduced the flow of migrants to our southern border and created stability in a previously chaotic nation.
Arrest of Human Rights Lawyer in El Salvador Raises Concerns of Unlawful Intimidation
On May 18, 2025, Ruth Eleonora López, a prominent human rights lawyer and senior figure at the nonprofit organization Cristosal, was arrested in El Salvador. The detention of López, who has… pic.twitter.com/iMMr2GhwkS
— WEB3 (@WEB3WORLDWAR) May 20, 2025
Changing U.S. Approach
The Biden administration, which initially criticized Bukele’s methods, sent a high-level delegation to his inauguration, signaling a pragmatic shift as El Salvador has helped slow migration to the United States. The U.S. Embassy in El Salvador has remained notably silent on recent arrests of Bukele’s critics. This shift reflects the uncomfortable reality for progressives that Bukele’s tough approach has delivered tangible results that benefit both Salvadorans and Americans, reducing both crime and illegal immigration – results that stand in stark contrast to the failing border policies of the past administration.
While the leftist press frames El Salvador’s transformation as an authoritarian backslide, many Salvadoran citizens celebrate their newfound safety and economic growth. The lesson for American conservatives is clear: decisive leadership focused on law and order can rapidly transform even the most dangerous societies into functioning, stable nations where citizens can live without fear. The partnership between President Trump and President Bukele may prove to be a model for effective international cooperation focused on mutual security and prosperity rather than globalist ideological agendas.
