A bunch of MAGA Republicans showed up in El Salvador this weekend for yet another demonstration of the conservative movement’s allegiance to authoritarians around the world.
Several Republicans, including Representative Matt Gaetz of Florida, Senator Mike Lee of Utah, Donald Trump Jr. and former Fox News host Tucker Carlsontraveled to El Salvador to cheer the second inauguration of Nayib Bukelethe country’s authoritarian president.
Bukele, who has branded himself the “world’s coolest dictator,” has become known for extrajudicial violence against suspected gang members and for using military force to pressure lawmakers to bend to his will. He has also become known for suppressing women’s rights and banning school discussions about gender, which has endeared him to American conservatives.
Because El Salvador is a strategic ally of the US, the Biden administration sent one representative – Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas – to the inauguration. On X, Mayorkas gave a fairly standard statement pledging to continue working together on economic and security issues.
However, Republicans were full of praise and showed support not only for the partnership with the US, but also for Bukele’s particular style of illiberal leadership.
This seemed remarkable to me amid the right-wing anger over Donald Trump’s felony convictions in New York.
Gaetz, who has baselessly called the judge in Trump’s case “corrupt,” praised Bukele this weekend — saying, among other things, that the leader is “throwing out the corrupt judges.” Gaetz went on to call Bukele an ‘inspiration for the Western world’.
Trump Jr. claimed that “we need more like” Bukele and congratulated him on “winning a second term without even trying to jail his political opponents!” He also praised Javier Milei, Argentina’s far-right strongman, who was in attendance.
And Lee, meanwhile, took a thinly veiled swipe at President Joe Biden, saying Bukele had “made no attempt” to lock down his opponent.
This is all pathetic, disturbing and rather ironic. Biden had nothing to do with Trump’s guilty verdict. And praising Bukele for not jailing political opponents is certainly a choice, considering we’re talking about a man known for his wave of mass incarcerations that has drawn condemnation from human rights groups.
But it seems clear why members of today’s MAGA-powered Republican Party are drawn to Bukele: He’s every bit the strongman they see in Trump — but with more freedom to oppress people in his own country, especially perceived opponents .
For that reason, the sight of these Republicans whipping up Bukele should set alarm bells ringing among Americans. This display of authoritarian affection comes as conservatives have openly discussed the need for Trump to punish liberals — including executions — following his felony convictions.
As I see it, this was a clear confirmation of Bukele’s violent and vengeful leadership style.
This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
