Elon Musk Commends El Salvador's President Bukele for Upholding Free Speech

Elon Musk, the prominent tech entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has commended El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele for a recent address to the United Nations General Assembly. In his speech, Bukele defended his administration against allegations of suppressing political opposition and restricting freedom of expression.

Bukele Defends Civil Liberties in El Salvador, Receives Continued Support from Musk

During his speech, delivered in Spanish, Bukele asserted, “In El Salvador, we do not imprison our opposition. We do not censor opinions. We do not confiscate property from those who think differently.” He emphasised the protection of civil liberties, stating that freedom of expression and private property rights are upheld in El Salvador.

Musk’s praise for Bukele is not new; he has previously expressed support for the Salvadoran leader, particularly in light of recent events, such as the arrest of Telegram CEO Pavel Durov in France. Musk's relationship with Bukele deepened after the latter’s visit to Tesla's gigafactory in Texas, where they engaged in extensive discussions. Bukele referred to Musk as “one of the great minds of our time,” while Musk called Bukele an “amazing leader.”

Read more: Elon Musk’s El Salvador conference pushes Bitcoin further

Bukele's Bitcoin Adoption Faces Scrutiny Amid Press Freedom Concerns and Heavy-Handed Tactics

Bukele has gained international attention for his government's bold embrace of Bitcoin, which was adopted as legal tender in El Salvador in 2021. Despite this progressive stance on cryptocurrency, Bukele's claims regarding freedom of speech have faced scrutiny. The country ranked 133rd out of 180 in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, a decline of 18 places from the previous year.

Critics argue that Bukele’s administration has engaged in heavy-handed tactics, detaining thousands in an anti-gang crackdown. Furthermore, his controversial re-election earlier this year was facilitated by a constitutional court composed mainly of his supporters, which allowed him to run again after stepping down before the start of a second term.

Read more: El Salvador cold wallets purchase 1 BTC per day since March and have surged to 5,850 BTC