Argentinian president doubles down on Trump support, attends Mar-a-Lago event as the world reacts to tariffs

Argentina’s President Javier Milei has been making waves with his close relationship with US President Donald Trump. While other world leaders are grappling with the implications of Trump’s sweeping tariffs on US imports, Milei has been basking in the glow of his alliance with the American president.

Milei recently flew to Mar-a-Lago to receive an award for his libertarian agenda and to potentially chat with Trump at the “American Patriot” gala. This would have been their fourth face-to-face meeting since Trump’s election victory. Milei has been positioning himself as a strong ally of Trump in the global culture war against the “woke” left.

However, despite Milei’s close ties with Trump, there are doubts about whether this alliance will actually benefit crisis-stricken Argentina. Milei has implemented a series of austerity measures to fix Argentina’s economy, including pulling out of the World Health Organization and threatening to leave the Paris climate accord. He has also made controversial decisions such as banning gender change treatments for minors and promoting a cryptocurrency token that ultimately failed.

Milei’s economic reforms, which include significant government spending cuts, have lowered hyperinflation but have also led to increased unemployment and poverty rates. Weekly protests have criticized these cuts, with retirees demonstrating outside the Argentine National Congress demanding increased pensions.

Despite the challenges, Milei remains a staunch supporter of Trump’s policies, railing against socialism and feminism at speaking events worldwide. In response to Trump’s tariffs, Milei’s government in Buenos Aires has sought to reconcile the measures with its free trade ideology. While Argentina was hit with a 10% minimum tariff, officials framed it as preferential treatment compared to other countries.

Milei is also focused on securing a $20 billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund to support his economic reforms. Negotiations are ongoing, with Milei hoping for a successful outcome to bolster Argentina’s foreign currency reserves.

While Milei had hoped for a meeting with Trump during his visit to Mar-a-Lago, it seems that the much-anticipated photo-op did not materialize. Despite this, Milei’s strong alliance with Trump continues to shape Argentina’s economic and political landscape. As Milei navigates the challenges of governance and international relations, his close ties with Trump remain a focal point of his leadership.