On Tuesday night, Residente interviewed the President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele about the novel coronavirus. In an Instagram LIVE, Residente asked Bukele about the ways in which he is combating the spread of COVID-19 in El Salvador.
Last Saturday President Bukele ordered residents to quarantine at home for 30 days, something he knows is a heavy lift, but needed to slow the spread of the disease.
According to the New York Times, during the curfew only one person per family unit will be allowed out to shop. Also exempted from the curfew will be public servants, doctors, road, energy, banks and restaurant workers, as well as journalists, the military, the police and food distributors.
Over 150,000 people tuned in to watch the conversation between the two unlikely pair. Some were skeptical of Residente’s choice to have the interview, particularly given some of Bukele’s right wing politics—namely his opposition to abortion rights and gay marriage.
Multiple things. 1.) Why is Residente talking on insta live with the El Salvador president 2.) Nayib Bukele had troops occupy the Salvadoran parliament in February which is very fascist-like 3.) Why is this man’s hat backwards? pic.twitter.com/h5gmcPdZxm
— Nebraska Hernández (@neb_hernandez) March 25, 2020
Le puse un ratito al streaming de Residente con Nayib Bukele. El tipo hablando de dios, del ejército en su congreso y de la importancia de oponerse al aborto. Si ya me caía mal, ahora me cae peor.
— Pablo Rendón (@pagusrendon) March 25, 2020
The theme song of Curb Your Enthusiasm with a close up of Resident’s face when he realized interviewing a fascist dork on IG Live was a mistake.
— El Ticona ???? (@ni_soy_pastor) March 25, 2020
Through an official press release, Bukele rolled out a Plan de Respuesta y Alivio Económico ante la emergencia del COVID-19 (Response and Economic Relief Package in the Face of COVID-19), approving the suspension of all bills associated to electric and water services, plus all credit card payments and mortgages.
Residente asked Bukele about the monthly $300 bonus that will be given to citizens of El Salvador and how he will make sure that action will not be a difficult strain for the country after the pandemic is over.
