Europe vowed retaliation . China plotted tariffs of its own . Mexico scrambled To soften the impact. However, as global leaders were expressing concern about President Donald Trump's declaration of extensive duties on American goods entering the country In Argentina, the right-wing president was exuberant, celebrated at Mr. Trump's Mar-a-Lago club.
As part of his energetic efforts to connect with Mr. Trump, Argentine President Javier Milei he traveled from one of the planet’s most southerly countries to Palm Beach for just 24 hours to accept an award recognizing his libertarian platform, with hopes also to chat with Mr. Trump , who was also scheduled to attend The conservative "American Patriot" event.
"Makes Argentina Great Again!" Milei shouted from the ballroom stage at Mar-a-Lago late Thursday.
It would've been the fourth. in-person meeting between the leaders Since President Donald Trump’s electoral win last November, Governor Milei, who has implemented extensive austerity measures to address Argentina's longstanding economic issues, positions himself as one of Mr. Trump's most staunch supporters in the international cultural battle against the "progressive" left.
It remains to be seen whether Milei's strong support for Mr. Trump will truly benefit crisis-ridden Argentina, according to analysts.
Marcelo J. GarcÃa, who directs the Americas division at the New York-based geopolitical risk firm Horizon Engage, stated, “His connection with Trump has benefited him politically, however, he must convert this advantage into economic gains for the nation. So far, he hasn’t succeeded in doing so.”
Earlier this year, Milei removed Argentina from the World Health Organization following actions taken by the U.S. announced its own exit .
He warned he might leave the Paris climate agreement. after Mr. Trump did He banned gender transition therapies for young people following Mr. Trump's administration. banned transgender athletes He went so far as to promote participation in women's sports. cryptocurrency token mimicking the Trump memecoin—though it came with significant political consequences. For Milei, this resulted in the collapse of his cryptocoin, Libra, causing investors to lose approximately $250 million. Subsequently, he confessed that he had promoted the coin without thoroughly reviewing all the relevant information.
Milei has also cut down on governmental expenditures, much like Messrs. Trump and Musk did for the Department of Government Efficiency. Since he assumed office in 2023, Milei has decreased public spending in Argentina by more than 30%, achieving this through the abolition of roughly a dozen administrative bodies, reducing the federal workforce by 10%, and halting increases in salaries and pensions at both state and local levels. Although these reductions have helped curb the nation’s rampant inflation, they've simultaneously led to higher joblessness and poverty statistics. Protests occur weekly as people voice their discontent with his fiscal measures.
The cuts were part of what Milei pledged during his election campaign, where he even brandished a chainsaw. Later, he presented these reductions to Musk. a giant chainsaw modeled Following the presentation of the power tool, Musk brandished the chainsaw while speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference.
Protesting against socialism and feminism at various speaking engagements globally, including at CPAC, Milei has become somewhat of a MAGA icon.
The Argentine government responds to Trump's tariffs
As U.S. allies and competitors both condemned Mr. Trump's tariffs, a formally dressed Milei stood next to a portrait showcasing Mr. Trump's raised fist, eagerly seizing the chance to demonstrate his unwavering support for the American leader.
“As you can see, our approach involves taking action rather than just speaking about policies, which aligns with what President Donald Trump advocates,” Milei stated before the audience gathered at Mar-a-Lago. His reference to the U.S. president elicited applause from those present as he delivered his speech in Spanish.
In Buenos Aires, under Milei's administration, efforts were made to harmonize President Trump's extensive tariff initiatives with their extreme libertarian principles and strong advocacy for unrestricted trade.
"We do not consider this as an assault on free trade; rather, it’s the complete contrary," stated Manuel Adorni, who speaks for Javier Milei, regarding Mr. Trump's declaration. "There isn’t any reason for such alarm over this matter," he added.
Despite the leaders' mutual compliments, Argentina faced a 10% minimum tariff. However, government representatives portrayed this as special favorable treatment. The headline of ClarÃn, which has the highest circulation in Argentina, read: "Trump reduces the product tax for us more than for other nations."
In Washington, Argentine Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein met on Thursday with high-ranking U.S. officials: top trade negotiator Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. Describing these discussions as “very fruitful,” he issued optimistic remarks suggesting that Argentina is progressing toward securing a free-trade deal with the U.S.
In his address at Mar-a-Largo, Milei commended the advancements towards the free trade agreement. However, what holds greater significance for the Argentinian leader is the anticipated $20 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund. This crucial funding would assist Milei in maintaining his extensive economic reform efforts amidst increasing strain on Argentina’s limited foreign exchange reserves.
Milei has already utilized executive authority to bypass Congress’s approval of a new IMF program. However, the loan isn’t yet finalized as negotiations continue regarding how much money Argentina—an habitual defaulting country indebted with around $44 billion—will have immediate access to upfront.
Against this background, on Wednesday, Milei traveled to the U.S. aboard an airplane alongside his economics minister; the U.S. being the largest contributor to the fund. During discussions with reporters, he mentioned anticipating "a casual meeting" with Mr. Trump. It should be noted that President Trump played a crucial role during his initial tenure for facilitating a significant $56 billion loan deal between Argentina and the fund back in 2018.
However, on Friday, the highly anticipated photo opportunity between Milei and Mr. Trump did not appear in his publicist’s polished compilation of images showing the Argentine president taking selfies with supporters at the red carpet of Mar-a-Lago.
The presidential office made no statement regarding his interaction—or lack thereof—with Mr. Trump and did not reply to several inquiries seeking clarification.
Mr. Trump reached Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach well past midnight on Friday following an engagement with professional golfers at one of his golf facilities close to Miami. The White House did not mention if he had a meeting with Milei.
Leading Argentine news outlets quoted unnamed sources stating that the leaders never had a meeting, which immediately drew criticism from his political opponents.
“When I woke up, I expected to see on television the photo opportunity with your ‘friend’ Trump that you were seeking,” wrote left-leaning ex-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner on social media. “What a waste of time and resources.”