Why would Bukele make a deal with Trump?

[Anonymous]

Not just for the money. Not just for the attention and fame. It's because one of the (actual) MS-13 gang members sent to CECOT was about to expose Bukele for the deal-making fraud that he is. He is not the "coolest dictator," he is a criminal who negotiates with terrorists.

For years, Bukele negotiated in secret with the gang leaders. He granted favors, reduced sentences, even freed them while they continued to ravage the country. During those years, Bukele maintained a secret pact with gangs—including MS-13—that lasted through three massacres! After each massacre, Bukele would arrest lower level people and continue meetings with the higher levels.

Well, Bukele got Trump to hand over one of the big MS-13 leaders, a man the US had chased, had extradited from Mexico, and was about to convict : César Humberto López Larios. He is one of the real high-up people, but guess what? he was released from prison by Bukele. This guy López Larios was about to testify in a New York court about his deals with the Salvadoran government, and thus ruin Bukele's reputation. He is probably already dead and a message has been sent to anyone else who thought about talking.

You are free to use google and corroborate but here are two respected Spanish language newspapers.

https://elfaro.net/en/202303/opinion/26745/Bukele's-Pact-with-the-Gangs-Lasted-Three-Massacres.htm

https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-03-24/el-grenas-the-ms-13-leader-who-may-hold-the-key-to-bukele-and-trumps-prison-deal.html

[Anonymous]

Money and standing at home. it won't end well for him because at the end of the day, ETTD.

[Anonymous]

Interesting story, OP. Here's an interview with the editor of the El Faro that mentions some of the same points that you did.

*"Bukele made that secret agreement with the gangs five years ago that helped his party win elections. In exchange, Mr. Bukele freed some of the gang bosses, including a few who were facing extradition to the U.S. After leaving El Salvador they were captured in Mexico and sent to the United States where they were indicted. Some of the indictments include allegations of the gang’s collusion with authorities in El Salvador. We also know that when Mr. Bukele offered Marco Rubio to receive deportees and criminals, he also requested that the gang bosses be sent back to El Salvador, and at least one of them was included in those first flights."

*Oh, and lookie here--turns out that the fed govt can ask judges to release "terrorists" and "gang members" when it suits their purposes:

So what happened to the charges that the US had against these MS-13 leaders?

"...we found federal court documents indicating the Justice Department and U.S. attorney assigned to the case asked the judge to dismiss the charges against this gang leader in order for him to be deported. And that’s what happened."

The Real Reason El Salvador's President Bukele Cozied Up to Trump
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/04/el-salvador-nayib-bukele-trump-deportation/

[Anonymous]

Trump is a grifter and fleecing the American people in plain sight. Of course they have a lot in common and ways to extort each other for gains.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know the details but from people I talked with who go and visit their families they are happy.
They said gang members were everywhere and out of control and now it’s peaceful and they walk around at night.
The country is transformed from one of the most dangerous to a peaceful country.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know the details but from people I talked with who go and visit their families they are happy.
They said gang members were everywhere and out of control and now it’s peaceful and they walk around at night.
The country is transformed from one of the most dangerous to a peaceful country.

The end do not justify the means.

He did away with due process.

The biggest criminal is the one in charge.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know the details but from people I talked with who go and visit their families they are happy.
They said gang members were everywhere and out of control and now it’s peaceful and they walk around at night.
The country is transformed from one of the most dangerous to a peaceful country.

I've heard the same thing from Salvadoreans. I have lived in several dictatorships and there does tend to be more law and order on the streets--but it comes at a price. In Bukele's case, the price includes:

-Authoritarianism: undermining democracy by defying constitutional term limits, packing courts with loyalists, and using soldiers to intimidate lawmakers; declaring continuous "states of emergency" to suspend limits on power.
-Human Rights Abuses: His gang crackdown, incarcerating over 85,000 people, is criticized for arbitrary detentions, torture, and lack of due process.
-Economic Risks: Bitcoin investments and a fragile economy have doubled extreme poverty and deterred private investment, risking fiscal instability.
-Getting around the constitutional term limit of 5 years and winning a second term. (Authoritarians usually find ways to stay in power, regardless of what their constitutions say.)

[Anonymous]

I read your first paragraph and thought it sounds like Musk. The specifics are different but you basically have a dude who broke the law, was about to get caught, and then goes bat-sht crazy dismantling / jailing / whatevering to stay out of jail. Sounds like Trump, too.

[CommonSense]

Anonymous wrote:Not just for the money. Not just for the attention and fame. It's because one of the (actual) MS-13 gang members sent to CECOT was about to expose Bukele for the deal-making fraud that he is. He is not the "coolest dictator," he is a criminal who negotiates with terrorists.

For years, Bukele negotiated in secret with the gang leaders. He granted favors, reduced sentences, even freed them while they continued to ravage the country. During those years, Bukele maintained a secret pact with gangs—including MS-13—that lasted through three massacres! After each massacre, Bukele would arrest lower level people and continue meetings with the higher levels.

Well, Bukele got Trump to hand over one of the big MS-13 leaders, a man the US had chased, had extradited from Mexico, and was about to convict : César Humberto López Larios. He is one of the real high-up people, but guess what? he was released from prison by Bukele. This guy López Larios was about to testify in a New York court about his deals with the Salvadoran government, and thus ruin Bukele's reputation. He is probably already dead and a message has been sent to anyone else who thought about talking.

You are free to use google and corroborate but here are two respected Spanish language newspapers.

https://elfaro.net/en/202303/opinion/26745/Bukele's-Pact-with-the-Gangs-Lasted-Three-Massacres.htm

https://english.elpais.com/international/2025-03-24/el-grenas-the-ms-13-leader-who-may-hold-the-key-to-bukele-and-trumps-prison-deal.html

In summary: Bukele’s government partnered with, protected, and favored criminal groups.

Sounds like the Democrats here in the US.

Biden/Harris/Mayorkas shouldn't have facilitated the open border crisis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know the details but from people I talked with who go and visit their families they are happy.
They said gang members were everywhere and out of control and now it’s peaceful and they walk around at night.
The country is transformed from one of the most dangerous to a peaceful country.

People like Duerte too in the beginning.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know the details but from people I talked with who go and visit their families they are happy.
They said gang members were everywhere and out of control and now it’s peaceful and they walk around at night.
The country is transformed from one of the most dangerous to a peaceful country.

The end do not justify the means.

He did away with due process.

The biggest criminal is the one in charge.

Yeah,
But unless you have strong law and order and legal system that works people start preferring strong man than chaotic democracy.
That’s what happened in Russia in the nineties.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know the details but from people I talked with who go and visit their families they are happy.
They said gang members were everywhere and out of control and now it’s peaceful and they walk around at night.
The country is transformed from one of the most dangerous to a peaceful country.

Same thing happened in Philippines and now Duterte has ended up at the ICC. These good folks won’t be so happy once it affects them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know the details but from people I talked with who go and visit their families they are happy.
They said gang members were everywhere and out of control and now it’s peaceful and they walk around at night.
The country is transformed from one of the most dangerous to a peaceful country.

The end do not justify the means.

He did away with due process.

The biggest criminal is the one in charge.

Yeah,
But unless you have strong law and order and legal system that works people start preferring strong man than chaotic democracy.
That’s what happened in Russia in the nineties.

Not really. Putin had lots of resistance in the 90s but he turned the military on his own citizens. He also allowed his allies to steal the country's assets just as he was doing. You think Musk is the richest man in the world? More likely Putin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know the details but from people I talked with who go and visit their families they are happy.
They said gang members were everywhere and out of control and now it’s peaceful and they walk around at night.
The country is transformed from one of the most dangerous to a peaceful country.

Same thing happened in Philippines and now Duterte has ended up at the ICC. These good folks won’t be so happy once it affects them.

And don't forget the Marcos dictatorship in the 70s. When he declared martial law, it was popular for a few years because of perceptions it reduced crime. But eventually the people got tired of the Marcos kleptocracy and his autocratic rule. People will tire of Bukele and Trump as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don’t know the details but from people I talked with who go and visit their families they are happy.
They said gang members were everywhere and out of control and now it’s peaceful and they walk around at night.
The country is transformed from one of the most dangerous to a peaceful country.

Same thing happened in Philippines and now Duterte has ended up at the ICC. These good folks won’t be so happy once it affects them.

And don't forget the Marcos dictatorship in the 70s. When he declared martial law, it was popular for a few years because of perceptions it reduced crime. But eventually the people got tired of the Marcos kleptocracy and his autocratic rule. People will tire of Bukele and Trump as well.

I am very tired of them already!