Key Takeaways
- Donald Trump accuses El Salvador of dumping criminals into the US.
- Bitcoin supporters defend President Nayib Bukele’s crime reduction strategies.
- Bukele has yet to respond to Trump's comments, focusing instead on promoting his new coffee brand.
Former President Donald Trump’s recent remarks about El Salvador have sparked intense discussions within the Bitcoin community. During his speech at the Republican National Convention, Trump accused El Salvador, led by Bitcoin advocate President Nayib Bukele, of “dumping criminals” into the United States.
Trump’s critique
Trump criticized Bukele’s methods of reducing crime, suggesting that the reported drop in El Salvador’s murder rate was due to exporting criminals to the U.S. This claim was swiftly rebutted by prominent Bitcoin figures. Nic Carter, a general partner at Castle Island Ventures, countered that Bukele’s strategies have effectively reduced the influx of MS-13 gang members into the U.S.
Responses
The Bitcoin Therapist, a notable analyst, warned Trump against making unfounded accusations, stating:
As bullish as he is for Bitcoin and the economy, I won’t stand for disingenuous comments about a stand-up leader like Nayib Bukele. It could certainly cost my vote.
Mark Keiser, Bukele’s advisor on Bitcoin, expressed eagerness to confront Trump directly at the upcoming Bitcoin Conference, saying:
Trump is wrong. […] I’m looking forward to July 27 at the Bitcoin Conference in Nashville. I’ll set him straight about El Salvador, the Bitcoin Country.
Bukele response
Despite the uproar, Bukele has not directly addressed Trump’s statements, focusing instead on promoting his new Salvadoran coffee brand.
However, Bukele retweeted a humorous post by 20 Dollar CFO Robert Sterling, who joked about the coffee’s effect on deterring MS-13 gang members.
