Why Bukele, Sheinbaum, And Milei Matter To Latinos Living In the US

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Credit: Instagram/ nayibbukele

Latin Americans living in the United States still watch politics back home closely. Presidential approval ratings in countries like El Salvador, Mexico, Colombia, and Argentina are part of daily conversation because they affect family, money, safety, and the future of relatives still living there.

The latest survey from CB Consultora Opinión Pública, reported by EFE, places El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele as the highest rated president in Latin America in April, while Peru’s interim president José María Balcázar ranks last. Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum and Costa Rica’s Rodrigo Chaves complete the top of the list.

These numbers matter because many U.S. Latinos do not see Latin America as distant politics. They see home.

Why U.S. Latinos Pay Attention

Many Latino families in the United States still send money to relatives, help parents with bills, follow elections, and make decisions based on what is happening in their home countries.

If violence rises in El Salvador, families in Los Angeles feel it. If inflation grows in Argentina, relatives in Miami hear about it immediately. If political instability affects Colombia or Peru, it changes conversations about travel, investment, and whether loved ones should stay or leave.

A president’s approval rating becomes a quick way to understand how people inside those countries feel about daily life.

Bukele And Sheinbaum Lead The Region

Nayib Bukele ranks first with 70.1 percent approval and 26.3 percent disapproval. His support dropped slightly since March, but he remains the strongest name in the region.

His second term began in June 2024 despite constitutional limits on consecutive reelection. His hard line security policy against gangs remains the main reason many Salvadorans continue supporting him.

Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum follows with 69.8 percent approval and 26.8 percent rejection. As Mexico’s first woman president, her leadership is being watched closely by Mexican families on both sides of the border.

Costa Rica’s Rodrigo Chaves takes third place with 59.5 percent favorability as he prepares to leave office.

Lula, Milei, Petro And The Lower Half

Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva now sits in seventh place with 48.4 percent approval and 49.1 percent rejection.

Argentina’s Javier Milei appears among the lowest ranked presidents with 36.2 percent approval and 59.7 percent rejection. Colombia’s Gustavo Petro also remains low with 38.2 percent approval as his presidency approaches its final months.

Peru’s interim president José María Balcázar closes the ranking with only 17.9 percent approval and 67.9 percent rejection, making him the least supported leader in the survey.

Politics Does Not Stop At The Border

For many Latinos in the United States, approval ratings are not abstract numbers. They help answer real questions.

Is it safe for family to stay there. Should money still be sent home. Is the country improving or getting harder to live in.

That is why these rankings matter. They are about presidents, but they are also about millions of Latinos who still measure part of their future through the place they came from.

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