How the ‘world’s coolest dictator’ is helping Trump
Americast
BBC
4.2 • 2.8K Ratings
🗓️ 17 April 2025
⏱️ 35 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Justin and Sumi take a closer look into the deepening relationship between Donald Trump and El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele, as the row over the deportation of migrants to the Central American country escalates.
Could the Trump administration run into further trouble with the law over its handling of the situation? And, what's in it for Bukele?
Plus, what else have we missed in the news cycle? Sumi shares one story at the US-Mexico border that’s flown under the radar this week.
HOSTS:
- Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter - Sumi Somaskanda, Chief Presenter in Washington
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This episode was made by Chris Flynn with Rufus Gray, Claire Betzer and Grace Reeve. The technical producer was Ben Andrews. The series producer was Chris Flynn. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, music, radio, podcasts. |
| 0:04.8 | If there's one thing that defines Donald Trump, it is immigration and specifically being tough on immigration. |
| 0:10.5 | It's always been a really key issue for him. |
| 0:12.8 | He's sold himself to the American people on it. |
| 0:15.5 | And now he's got a friend who's helping him with him. |
| 0:18.7 | If we can help, we do it. |
| 0:20.0 | And we actually turned the murder capital of the world. |
| 0:24.2 | That was the journalist, right? |
| 0:26.1 | Murder capital of the world to the safest country in the Western Hemisphere. |
| 0:29.9 | And, you know, sometimes they say that we're in prison thousands. |
| 0:35.2 | I like to say that we actually liberated millions. |
| 0:38.3 | So, you know, like, it's very good. |
| 0:42.3 | Who gave him that line? |
| 0:44.3 | Do you think I can use that? |
| 0:46.3 | Yes, I can use it. |
| 0:47.3 | And in fact, Mr. President, you have |
| 0:50.3 | 350 million people to liberate it. |
| 0:53.3 | But to liberate 350 million people, you have to imprison some. |
| 0:57.0 | You know, that's the way it works, right? |
| 0:59.0 | The person you were hearing there in the White House, alongside Donald Trump, |
| 1:02.0 | was President Nae Bukele of El Salvador, a man who has, I suspect jokingly, |
| 1:09.0 | but anyway, described himself as the world's coolest dictator. |
... |
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