On Monday evening, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele shared a laugh at the expense of Democrats, referring to their recent bill targeting his administration as “salted.” This reaction followed the introduction of legislation by Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) aimed at imposing sanctions.
Bukele took to Twitter, expressing his amusement with a series of “Hahahaha…” tweets.
The “El Salvador Accountability Act of 2025,” introduced in June with Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA) and Alex Padilla (D-CA), seeks sanctions against Bukele, Vice President Félix Ulloa, several ministers, and other high-ranking officials for significant human rights violations allegedly executed under a state of emergency declared by the government since 2022.
This proposal also suggests restricting their U.S. constitutional rights and access to taxpayer funds based on “reliable information,” and involves further assistance tied to financial support and materials.
Included in the sanctions are U.S. visa restrictions for Bukele and others, as well as freezing their U.S. assets and limiting access to loans from U.S. financial institutions. The restrictions urge the U.S. Treasury Secretary to resist lending to the Salvadoran government and halt non-humanitarian loan programs.
Additionally, the bill calls for a report to Congress from the U.S. Secretary of State, noting how Salvadoran officials, including Bukele, may use cryptocurrency to sidestep corruption and sanctions.
This proposed report would detail the finances the Salvadoran government has allocated for Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, including the platforms used for transactions, while also assessing if these digital currencies are being leveraged to avoid traditional financial oversight due to corruption.
Before launching a successful campaign against violent gangs, which shaped his policies, Bukele had embraced Bitcoin as a key aspect of his political strategy. In 2021, under his leadership, El Salvador became the first country globally to accept Bitcoin alongside the U.S. dollar as an official currency. Bukele frequently showcases the gains made by the nation through Bitcoin on social media.
In a tweet from May, he remarked, “They said, ‘Don’t take screenshots, you’ll benefit,'” sharing a snapshot of the country’s impressive returns on Bitcoin investments.
A few days after introducing the bill, Senator Van Hollen visited El Salvador while mediating for Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant facing human trafficking charges in the U.S. Abrego Garcia has pleaded not guilty and recently presented a video intended to counter claims regarding his treatment while in detention.
