Today, President Bukele is widely recognized for his role in reducing gang violence and lowering El Salvador’s homicide rate. Motivated by this, many of his supporters, especially online, often repeat phrases like “all good Salvadorans support the President” in response to growing critiques and concerns about the regime. These claims have come to suggest that Bukele enjoys unanimous support, or at least support from those seen as the “good” citizens. But is there truly national consensus, or does meaningful opposition exist? And does disagreeing with Bukele make someone “bad”?

In an article from The Economist titled "First he busted gangs. Now Nayib Bukele busts critics," shared on their Facebook page, we can see how Bukele supporters respond to the article's claim that "El Salvador’s president has all the tools of repression he needs to stay in power indefinitely."

Public Support: Polls and Statistics 

But is this the whole story?

No. The reality is that while Bukele might enjoy the supposed support of the majority of Salvadorans according to recent reputable polling and the vote margin by which he was elected in 2024, it is equally important to recognize that opposition does exist, both online and within the country. This opposition may be underrepresented in current polls and statistics because of the tactics the regime uses to intimidate and punish critics, along with the mass incarceration of a significant portion of the population. 

Meaningful Opposition Exists: Social Media, Human Rights Groups, Journalists

Here, we learn that support for Bukele is not universal, at least not on social media. We also learn that his supporters often lean on claims of popular backing and his perceived success, framing critics as “corrupt” or unpatriotic. As a result, even when opponents express real fears about authoritarianism or being silenced, supporters respond by portraying them as obstacles to safety and prosperity in the country -- bad people. This is not a fair assessment. 

Human Rights Groups 

Another way that we see opposition manifest is in the existence and work of Salvadoran-based human rights groups, even in light of the arbitrary arrests of their leaders.

Bukele's Silencing of Opposition

Amnesty International is among many organizations that has highlighted Bukele's targeted attacks towards oppostion, notably human rights defenders and journalists. 

Beyond the threat of being arrested for speaking or acting against the regime, Bukele has further silenced opposition through the implementation of a Foreign Agents Law.

Conclusion: Opposition exists, from "good" people and organizations... 

Together, considering the threat of arrests for all who oppose Bukele and the systemic action taken to sanitize the work of community organizations, we should try to understand "support" with nuance. 

Clearly, Bukele does not have the support of the entire nation. Despite polls or statistics, what we know is that opposition manifests in many ways in the country: on social media, through the existence and work of human rights organizations, and in journalism. Going further, it is likely that everyday people who oppose Bukele might fear repercussions if their views were to become public. We must always consider this when interpreting data coming out of El Salvador.

Finally, it is clear that simply opposing Bukele does not make you a "bad" person or, worse, someone affiliated with gangs -- no matter what the myth and those who spread it might suggest. In fact, as we have shown, in many cases, those who oppose the regime and its actions do so out of concern for their nation and fellow citizens.