Bukele Defends His Rule in Six-Year Anniversary Speech

El Salvador's President Bukele Celebrates Six Years in Office, Defends His Record Amidst Controversy SAN SALVADOR, EL SALVADOR – President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador marked his sixth anniversary in office with a speech that both celebrated his achievements and addressed criticisms of his governance. The speech, delivered before a large audience, focused heavily on his administration's crackdown on gang violence. Bukele defended his methods, stating, "The supposed human rights organizations defend assassins who once massacred our people." He also criticized international media, alleging that some journalists spread misinformation. "They call that freedom of the press," he said, referring to what he sees as biased reporting. The speech comes at a time of heightened international scrutiny of Bukele's human rights record, particularly concerning the mass incarceration of gang members in a new mega-prison. Despite the controversy, Bukele's speech highlighted his continued popularity among many Salvadorans.