Javier Milei He listened to his heart and not his brain: the Argentine president enthusiastically embraced the former president this Saturday Donald Trump and expressed the desire for the tycoon to return to the White House.
«You were a great president and I hope you will be again» the Casa Rosada resident told Trump backstage at the ultra-conservative CPAC conference in Washington.
Beyond the presence of the Republican, who will be a rival Joe Biden In the presidential elections of November this year, the big star of the conference was the Argentine head of state, who is generating international interest with his ultra-liberal discourse in which, without complexes, he attacks «the left» by promoting the existence of a minimal state.
«Mister President,» Milei said, with a smile that didn’t fit her red, emotional face, before hugging Trump and patting him on the shoulder. In the background she was playing “YMCA” by “Village People.” The dialogue is heard in a poor audio quality video recorded by a Trump adviser.
«I thank you for the work you do for me,» added the Argentine before wishing the Republican his return to the White House.
A little surprised by such outpouring, Trump responded with «thank you, I promise», before offering some photos and launching a marketing phrase: «Make Argentina great again», version of «Make America Great Again» which is part of their usual slogans.
Milei appeared before the CPAC audience with a leaden speech, in which he developed aspects of economic theory and practically did not touch on current issues.
Only towards the end did he allow himself to deviate from his quasi-doctoral thesis in economics: «The message is the following: Don’t let socialism advance, Don’t pass regulations, don’t let the state grow, don’t allow the murderous agenda of abortion and don’t let yourself be carried away by the siren song of social justice. I come from a country that bought those stupid ideas but which, as one of the richest in the world, is now ranked 140th. Don’t give up your freedom, fight for your freedom. «If they don’t fight for freedom, they will end up in poverty.»
The day before, in Buenos Aires, the Argentine president had received a visit from Anthony Blinken, Biden’s Secretary of State, who despite clear ideological differences was very complimentary towards Milei and showed the Democratic administration’s willingness to help Latin America’s third largest economy emerge from its serious crisis.
There was anticipation in the Argentine capital over what Blinken might say ahead of Milei’s trip this Friday to Washington to attend CPAC.
“I cannot talk about his program and his future meetings,” Blinken said before once again praising the ultraliberal who has governed Argentina since December 2023. Not talking about what a president does implies, in turn, stating that that president, Milei, does not refer to what others do in the internal politics of his country, in this case Biden and Trump. With her explicit desire for Trump to return to the White House, Milei upset this balance.
Local media such as «Clarn», written by the influential commentator Marcelo Bonelli, They noted Friday that «the United States will not help Milei if the president ‘plays Washington’s inside game’ in Trump’s favor.»
«Ambassador Marc Stanley has already had a private conversation with Milei about his participation in the Conservative Convention. Milei has made a commitment to the ambassador: ‘I will not discuss domestic politics of the United States in the forum.'»
Milei needs US support to get fresh money from the IMF, a figure large enough to advance the main promise of his election campaign: thedollarization of Argentina’s devastated economy.
This same week the «number two» of the IMF visited Buenos Aires, Gita Gopinath, and, according to Bonelli, he left two messages for Milei: «The International Monetary Fund does not wantdollarization and alluded to the fact that the flirtation with Donald Trump is making noise in Washington.»
Blinken did not reveal the U.S. position ondollarization of a medium-sized economy like Argentina’s, a step far superior to thedollarization undertaken by small countries like Panama, Ecuador or El Salvador.
“Dollarization depends on Argentina, obviously we hope to discuss some plans, but It’s Argentina’s decision. And we support Argentina’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund, which can be a very important anchor.»
Milei has already demonstrated fierce pragmatism: after years of dedicating all kinds of insults to the Pope francesco, The first Argentine and Latin American to reach the head of the Catholic Church, he hugged him and admitted that he had been wrong in his assessments. He also has the current Minister of Security among his most trusted people, Patrizia Bullrich, former rival in the fight for the presidency and who claimed to have planted bombs in kindergartens in his youth.
But the figure of Trump is, everything indicates, a bigger word for Milei, conquered by the heart rather than the brain in the meeting with the former North American president, who during his speech defined the Argentine as «a fantastic guy».