Last Sunday, Bukele shared on social media that 'it's great to be on top', after the account X World of Statistics announced him as the most popular leader, surpassing figures like Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin, and U.S. President Joe Biden.
However, Bukele cited a tweet from World of Statistics without specifying the exact source of the data. According to Morning Consult, a global political analytics firm, Modi still tops the list of most popular leaders from September 25 to October 1.
Under Bukele's leadership, El Salvador has become the center of attention due to his pioneering decision to adopt Bitcoin (BTC) as legal tender in 2021. His leadership has also received praise from Elon Musk, who referred to Bukele as 'a very smart guy' at a Donald Trump event in New York.
Musk has previously praised Bukele's administration's commitment to free speech. However, Bukele's claims about ensuring freedom of speech remain controversial, as El Salvador ranks 133rd out of 180 countries in the World Press Freedom Index for 2024, dropping 18 places from the previous year. His administration has also been criticized for detaining thousands in the anti-gang campaign.
