An Illusion of Control: How El Salvador’s President Rhetorically Inflates His Ability to Quell Violence

To create an illusion of improving country conditions with respect to gang violence, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele relies on rhetorical strategies that include asserting his power and aptitude accomplish what no other leader before him has done, undercutting the credibility critics, selectively revealing concealing national data. In this paper, I offer a fantasy-theme analysis demonstrate strategic digital mediation one key instance Bukele’s wielding public diplomacy detract attention from El Salvador’s continuing legacy violence democratic decline. Delivered in midst government-sanctioned state emergency following rash early 2022, third annual Address Nation speech accomplishes twin goals proclaiming imminent victory over infamous pervasive gangs defending himself against critical global gaze directed at country.