President Nayib Bukele has reaffirmed his position regarding the role of certain journalists and media outlets in El Salvador, emphasizing that some individuals operating under the title of «journalist» may in fact be political activists aligned with specific agendas. These agendas, he noted, are often supported by international organizations such as the Open Society Foundations, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and USAID.
Through a public statement on his official account, President Bukele referenced his recent State of the Nation Address, where he stated:
“Most journalists have no method or ethics, but are simply paid activists to push agendas… not journalists, but POLITICAL ACTIVISTS with an agenda.”
His remarks followed media coverage of the April 8, 2025, arrest of José Eliseo Amaya Palacios, an MS-13 gang member, by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Palacios had already been convicted in absentia in El Salvador in 2023 for criminal organization, under recent legal reforms that allow prosecution of fugitives.
According to President Bukele, key facts — such as the conviction — were omitted by outlets like La Prensa Gráfica and Diario Co Latino, creating what he considers a distorted narrative of the case. He suggested that such omissions could reflect the influence of external agendas rather than neutral journalism.
The issue gains further context from a 2020 public statement issued by the Open Society Foundations, in response to previous allegations made by the President regarding foreign funding of opposition movements in El Salvador.
Moreover, the ICE operation fits into a broader strategy by U.S. authorities to curb gang-linked immigration, particularly under the current administration. Official data from the U.S. Department of Justice indicates that over 2,000 individuals linked to gangs like MS-13 have been deported in 2025 alone.
President Bukele’s remarks also resonate with findings from a 2021 Reuters Institute study, which revealed that 68% of journalists globally acknowledge having reported with a specific agenda. While no direct funding evidence has been presented linking these media outlets to international actors, the President argues that the pattern of omission suggests a need to distinguish between traditional journalism and agenda-driven activism.
He concluded by stating that while individuals have the right to express political positions, it is essential to call each role by its proper name:
“They have the right to be activists. But we must call things by their name.”
This call for clarity contributes to a broader conversation about press integrity, political transparency, and the evolving relationship between media and governance in El Salvador.