In his first public appearance since being nominated by President-elect Donald Trump for Attorney General and resigning from the House of Representatives, Matt Gaetz underscored the Salvadoran approach to security as a model for addressing challenges in other regions. Speaking at an event hosted by the El Salvador caucus, Gaetz lauded the country’s progress under President Nayib Bukele and called for its replication elsewhere.
“Under the visionary leadership of President Nayib Bukele, El Salvador has undergone a transformation unlike any other nation in the Western Hemisphere and, perhaps, the world,” Gaetz stated during the reception, which celebrated bilateral relations and recent advancements in Salvadoran security.
The event, held at the U.S. National Archives, symbolized the enduring friendship between the two nations. “This is where the United States preserves its most precious and important documents. It felt appropriate to host our cherished friends in this historic space,” Gaetz remarked.
The AG nominee praised the bipartisan nature of the caucus, which he credited with facilitating a reduction in the U.S. State Department’s travel advisory for El Salvador, encouraging more Americans to visit the Central American nation. He called the caucus “a practical, bipartisan coalition” and emphasized its success in fostering improved relations between the two countries.
Reflecting on his tenure with the caucus, Gaetz urged his former colleagues to continue visiting El Salvador and drawing lessons from its innovative security strategies. “All members of this caucus—left, right, and center—played a role. Even the Harris-Biden administration gave this initiative careful consideration,” he noted, highlighting its broad political support.
The reception drew prominent figures from both nations, including U.S. Representatives Vicente González, Anna Paulina Luna, and María Elvira Salazar, as well as Salvadoran Vice President Félix Ulloa, Ambassador Milena Mayorga, and Legislative Assembly President Ernesto Castro.
Gaetz concluded by reiterating the importance of the Salvadoran model in ensuring safety and prosperity for both nations, signaling his commitment to integrating these principles into U.S. policy as Attorney General.