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Ted Cruz: “That has made El Salvador safer, but it's also made America…”

Featuring: Ted Cruz, Republican | U.S. Senate, Texas

On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders

Published August 27, 2025 | Video Starts at 04:40

And I spent quite a bit of time this evening with President Bukele with his senior team. And That has made El Salvador safer, but it's also made America safer. So that's why I'm here. Now let me tell you how CODELL begins. So I started the day early this morning in Houston in my home. (04:40–04:45)

CLAIM

Asserts that the reduction in crime in El Salvador has made both El Salvador and America safer.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Ted Cruz

“In 2015, the murder rate in El Salvador was 100 people per 100,000.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 08:47-08:54
“President Bukele came in and began going after the cartels. He arrested over 80,000 gang members.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 09:04-09:15
“He built a gigantic prison, the Secot prison, that houses up to 40,000 people.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 09:17-09:24
“The murder rate went from 100 murders per 100,000 people to last year in 2024, it was 1.9 murders per 100,000 people.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 12:15-12:28
“Previously, when the gangs were running the country, they had in one year over 300 police officers murdered.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 35:23-35:30
“In the last several years, particularly in the Biden administration, we saw a massive influx of illegal immigration from El Salvador that…”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 04:04-04:14
“We've seen El Salvador turn itself around. President Bukele, the president here who was elected with overwhelming support, reelected with…”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 04:14-04:34
“The old government of El Salvador, the leftists, made a decision to essentially hand government over to the cartels.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 10:14-10:32
“President Bukali got reelected with over 80% of the vote.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 12:35-12:40
“In 2018, right before Bukele came into office, there were across the country roughly 2,300 murders.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 16:39-16:50
“There have been [this year] 50 [murders].”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 16:50-16:52
“The Biden administration did everything they could to undermine [President Bukele], to attack the government of El Salvador.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 19:53-20:00
“The Biden administration put sanctions on government officials in El Salvador.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 20:27-20:34
“When they're locking up these Ms. 13 gang members, these leaders, they're making America safer.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 20:39-20:45
“Violent crime has dropped significantly in D.C. because of the simple act of saying we're going to arrest violent criminals.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 21:21-21:29
“When you have a 98% reduction in the murder rates. The results speak for themselves.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 23:08-23:15
“This is the Maryland man who the Democrats have decided is who they stand for. And he's an MS.13 gang banger.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 24:19-24:28
“ICE arrested Gregor Garcia and then they're in the process of deporting him yet again.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 25:31-25:37
“He will no longer terrorize our country.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 26:45-26:48
“As part of this operation here in DC, we've also taken off MSM Ms. 13 members.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 26:58-27:04
“Cracker Barrel's stock price has tanked, just like Bud Light, just like Target.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 30:09-30:13
“Yesterday President Trump publicly called out Cracker Barrel and said, look, you need to just go back to your old logo.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 31:34-31:41
“Almost a year ago, November of last year, a big investor in Cracker Barrel guy named Sardar Biglari, he owns approximately 5% of the…”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 32:12-32:26
“They vaporized roughly 15% of the market cap of the company.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 33:32-33:38
“This is a multi day trip and we're traveling to two other countries throughout Latin America.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 34:32-34:37
“The focus is really on meeting with heads of state, meeting with leaders in each of these countries where the issues directly impact the…”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 34:37-34:48
“I had dinner tonight with the economy minister here in El Salvador.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 34:51-34:55
“The justice minister told me They've had over 10,000 applications for people who want to be police officers.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 35:10-35:17
“There are roughly 6 million Salvadorans in El Salvador. There are about 3 million Salvadorans in the United States.”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 35:53-36:00
“President Bucalli told me roughly half of those Salvadorans in America, about one and a half million, have said they want to come back to El…”
On the Ground with President Bukele in El Salvador plus Cracker Barrel Surrenders | Uploaded August 27, 2025 | 36:00-36:09