President Javier Milei met with Donald Trump on the sidelines of a gathering of US conservatives Saturday, where he praised his counterpart's reciprocal tariffs plans that have shocked trading partners.
Addressing the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) near Washington, the La Libertad Avanza leader echoed many of Trump's positions as he attacked what he called "a political class with a God complex."
Trump, whom Milei sees as an ideological ally, has vowed to impose reciprocal tariffs beginning April 2 – applying the same fee levels to imports that other countries place on US products.
Milei, pitching for a free-trade deal with the US, said he wanted to make Argentina "the first country in the world to join this reciprocity agreement that the Trump administration is asking for in trade matters,” without specifying what he meant by joining.
Trump has also threatened to impose 25 percent tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. Argentina is one of the countries that would be most affected.
Milei reiterated his hope for a free-trade agreement with Washington.
“If we were not restricted by Mercosur, Argentina would already be working on a free trade agreement with the United States that would be mutually beneficial,” he said.
'Second independence'
During their meeting, Milei and Trump discussed the Argentine leader's "groundbreaking economic reforms" and developing closer ties between the nations, the White House said.
It added that Trump invited Milei to visit Washington "in the coming months" for a formal visit.
Milei needs US support in negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), whose managing director Kristalina Georgieva he met earlier this week.
In a speech in Spanish, Milei said the United States and Argentina needed to achieve their "second independence." The first, he said, was from European colonisers, while "the second will free us from the tyranny of the state."
"They say Trump and I are a danger to democracy, when in reality they are saying we are a danger to them" – the critics – said Milei.
"They are right, we are their worst nightmare,” he added.
'Dear friend' Musk
Argentina’s self-proclaimed “anarcho-capitalist” leader also doubled down on a series of Trump positions, approving the dismantling of aid agency USAID and – in words echoing a speech by Vice President JD Vance – castigating European countries which he said had arrested people "for expressing themselves on social networks."
Milei also defended his "dear friend" Elon Musk, the billionaire businessman tasked by Trump with engineering stark budget cuts.
Argentina’s leader on Thursday presented Musk with a chainsaw, which the Tesla and SpaceX boss proudly flaunted on the CPAC stage.
Milei reiterated how his own government would "use a chainsaw" to hack through state programmes deemed "superfluous, redundant, unnecessary or directly harmful."
The meeting with Trump came just after the Republican leader had delivered the closing speech at CPAC, in which he declared that he wanted to ensure his party retained power in the years to come.
“We’re going to forge a new and lasting political majority that will drive American politics for generations to come,” declared Trump.
He said he was “very proud” of his “friend” Milei, who needs Washington’s support to negotiate a new deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“He's a MAGA guy to make Argentina great again,” he declared, using the acronym for his slogan “Make America Great Again.”
“I hear you're doing fantastic,” he said of Milei.
– TIMES/AFP/NA
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