TL;DR: El Salvador President Nayib Bukele did not attend the 2025 UN General Assembly, calling it “pointless.” Instead, he focused on domestic initiatives, including a major boxing event and national celebrations, emphasizing internal progress over global forums.
🟦 What Happened
- President Nayib Bukele of El Salvador skipped the 80th UN General Assembly (UNGA) in 2025, held September 23–27 in New York.
- He posted on social media:
- This is the first time Bukele has missed the UNGA since becoming president in 2019.
🟦 Domestic Focus and Public Engagement
- Bukele prioritized internal events over the UNGA, including:
- Hosting a major international boxing event in San Salvador around September 20, 2025, to boost tourism and global visibility.
- Promoting national independence celebrations, focusing on improvements in security and education.
- These actions align with Bukele’s strategy to prioritize internal development and national image over participation in multilateral diplomacy.
🟦 Background and Context
- Bukele has previously used his UN speeches to criticize global institutions:
- In 2021, he said the UNGA was “approaching obsolescence.”
- In 2024, he claimed the world was entering “a new dark era of humanity.”
- In 2019, he took a selfie at the UNGA and said:
- Bukele was re-elected in 2024 for a second term, despite allegations of unconstitutionality and election irregularities.
“This selfie that I’ll upload to social media will be seen by more people than this speech.”
🟦 Domestic and Political Context
- Bukele has focused on internal policies, including:
- A controversial gang crackdown with over 85,000 arrests since 2022.
- Promotion of Bitcoin as legal tender since 2021.
- Constitutional changes passed in July 2025 allow indefinite re-election, drawing international criticism.
🟦 International Reaction and Implications
- Over 150 world leaders attended the 2025 UNGA. Bukele’s absence drew attention but no official UN response.
- His non-attendance reflects a broader skepticism toward traditional institutions like the UN.
- Some analysts warn this could further isolate El Salvador from international aid and cooperation.
🟦 Social Media and Public Response
- Supporters praised Bukele’s directness and independence from global forums.
- Critics said skipping the UNGA undermines El Salvador’s role in global dialogue.
- No official UN statement was made, but Bukele was absent from the speaker list.