President Nayib Bukele met with U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno during an official visit to El Salvador, where Moreno hailed Bukele’s security reforms and urged U.S. lawmakers to study his approach. Moreno praised Bukele for removing criminal leaders from the streets, criticized IMF statements on Salvadoran finances, and called the president a model ally for the West. Supporters point to Bukele’s 2022–25 state-of-emergency crackdown that resulted in tens of thousands of arrests and a fall in homicides, while critics warn his removal of judges and concentration of power undermines judicial independence. The meeting underscores growing U.S.–El Salvador ties amid controversy today. (elsalvadorinenglish.com)