the coolest dictator in the world

the rise of nayib bukele

Nayib Bukele has become a headline in his own right, the kind of leader who bends the rules of what’s expected in power. The world doesn’t often hand out the title of “coolest dictator,” but that’s exactly how he’s branded himself, without hesitation, and with a certain amount of pride. Born into a country scarred by violence, Bukele has spent his time in office flipping the script on what it means to govern with authority. In a region where the word “dictator” is usually synonymous with oppression and fear, Bukele has managed to do something radical: he’s made it seem, well, cool.

There’s no denying that Bukele's rise has been unconventional. When he took office as president of El Salvador in 2019, he wasn’t part of the old political establishment. He wasn’t the product of decades of power inherited through family or party ties. Bukele came to politics with a background in business and marketing, and he’s used both to his advantage in ways his predecessors never could have imagined. While most political figures are still stuck in the world of press conferences and formal speeches, Bukele bypasses all that noise. He goes straight to the people, broadcasting his thoughts on Twitter, Instagram, and even TikTok—platforms that have allowed him to carve out a space where he’s both an authoritarian leader and a social media influencer. His followers, particularly among younger Salvadorans, don’t see him as a distant politician in a suit. To them, he’s a guy they can relate to, someone they can talk to, someone who gets them. He has become a voice in the digital age, unfiltered and raw, and that’s exactly how he wants it.

Of course, it’s not all memes and viral moments. Bukele’s approach to leadership is also about making hard decisions, decisions that can look drastic, even dangerous, from the outside. El Salvador’s gang problem was one of the deadliest in the world. MS-13 and Barrio 18 ruled the streets with iron fists, extorting people, controlling neighborhoods, and pushing the country’s murder rates to terrifying levels. For years, previous governments had promised solutions, but none seemed to stick. Then Bukele came along, and he did what no one else had dared to do, he threw out the rulebook. His response was swift and unforgiving: a crackdown on gangs that saw thousands of arrests, military and police sweeps in the streets, and a complete shift in how crime was tackled. Bukele didn’t hesitate to suspend constitutional rights or to use the full power of the state to take on gang leaders headfirst. Critics called it authoritarian, while his supporters praised the dramatic fall in homicide rates. For the first time in years, Salvadorans felt like they could walk the streets without fear. Whether or not his methods are sustainable remains to be seen, but Bukele’s gamble paid off, for now.

Then came Bitcoin. In 2021, Bukele did what no other world leader had dared to do: he made Bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador. The move was hailed as visionary by some and reckless by others. Critics questioned the decision, fearing it would destabilize the economy, while international financial institutions raised their eyebrows in disbelief. Bukele didn’t back down. He envisioned a future where his country could escape the grips of traditional financial systems, and cryptocurrency, he believed, would get them there. He pushed for the creation of the “Chivo Wallet,” a digital wallet that would allow Salvadorans to use Bitcoin as easily as they use cash. The rollout wasn’t without problems, but Bukele’s commitment to his vision remained unwavering. His boldness, even if controversial, demonstrated something fundamental about his leadership: he’s willing to take risks that no one else would. Whether or not Bitcoin will lead to lasting economic change is still up for debate, but Bukele’s willingness to embrace the future, no matter how unpredictable, is a testament to his desire to set El Salvador apart from the rest of the world.

Nayib Bukele’s presidency may not fit into the neat boxes of democracy, authoritarianism, or populism. He exists somewhere in between, and that’s exactly what makes him so fascinating. His youth, his use of technology, his unapologetic desire to break from tradition, these qualities make him stand out in a region that’s often been bogged down by corruption, political instability, and violence. Bukele has done something few could have predicted: he’s made authoritarian rule look...cool. In the process, he’s earned the loyalty of millions of Salvadorans who see him not just as a politician, but as a symbol of change, of possibility, and of a future where things can be different. Whether history will remember him as a visionary or a dictator remains to be seen, but for now, one thing is certain: Nayib Bukele is a leader who is anything but ordinary and dare I say it… maybe even cool.