And from Ben Shapiro to Elon Musk, prominent right-wing figures have rallied behind Latin America’s newest head of state, who has alarmed other world leaders with his far-right populism and promises to tear down the establishment.
Milei’s illiberal comments have proved deeply alarming to many observers around the world. U.S. conservatives, however, view the ascent of the self-described “anarcho-capitalist” as an opportunity — both to deepen ties between the United States and Argentina and to rebuke the increasingly leftward tilt of countries throughout Latin America. South American countries from Brazil to Colombia have elected leftist leaders in recent years, leading to what some have termed a second “pink tide” in the region that reprises a similar shift during the 2000s. Milei represents at least a partial repudiation of that trend, as he comes to power raging against staggering inflation and the country’s worst economic crisis in two decades.
His campaign pledges — to shutter the nation’s central bank, for instance, and to eradicate a wide range of government agencies — resonate among conservatives in Washington who envision a second Trump presidency as an opportunity to push similar right-wing priorities. Milei and Trump have some differences on economic policy: Trump added trillions of dollars to the U.S. national debt, for instance, while Milei has promised massive spending cuts in Argentina.
But the many similarities between the brash, wild-haired political outsiders are striking: They share an open disdain for their countries’ governing institutions, an affinity for conspiracy theories and a pro-business platform strongly opposed to organized labor.
At a rally in Ankeny, Iowa, on Saturday, Trump praised Milei and described his candidacy as a bid to “Make Argentina Great Again.”
“You saw what happened: He ran as Trump. It was Trump. ‘Make Argentina Great Again,’” Trump told the crowd. “It was perfect. MAGA. He had a MAGA agenda because it’s a conservative agenda.”
Trump isn’t the only Republican taking notice. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) said in a statement that Milei’s presidency “will be a significant boost for Argentina and for U.S. interests in the Western hemisphere.”
“The Biden administration has allowed the region to slip away from the United States and towards China, Russia, and Iran,” Cruz said. “Milei has committed to flipping these trends, and I look forward to working with him to deepen the U.S.-Argentine relationship.”
Democrats have also reached out to Argentina’s new leader. Last week, Milei met with White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan, while senior U.S. treasury officials also met with senior members of Milei’s team. Elected in part because of the sky-high inflation afflicting Argentina’s economy, Milei has already talked with top leaders of the International Monetary Fund about its outstanding $44 billion loan.
Milei also had lunch in New York City with former president Bill Clinton, a meeting offered because of Clinton’s experience working with both Republicans and Democrats to make bold choices to improve the economy, according to one senior U.S. official. Former senator Chris Dodd of Connecticut joined the event, with both Democrats complimenting the new Argentine president afterward.
One senior U.S. official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to reflect internal deliberations, said the administration wanted to send the message that it wants to work with Milei and has resources available to help, if he’s interested.
“He’s never been in a federal government before,” the official said. “The machinations of how federal bureaucracy works are all new.”
The senior U.S. official also sought to downplay the relationship and comparisons between Milei and Trump.
“I’m not convinced that he knows Trump very well,” the senior official said, adding that he doesn’t think Milei would be as pro-Trump if he did know him well. “Trump loves Russia and Putin. This guy does not like Russia or Putin.”
Milei has expressed strong support for Israel and Ukraine, a contrast to leftists such as Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who have expressed skepticism of the U.S. position on those wars.
Still, conservatives see a strong possibility for ties with the new Milei government, given the way he approaches politics and the economy.
Damian Merlo, a political strategist and U.S. lobbyist who advises El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, coordinated a September interview between Milei and Tucker Carlson, the former Fox News host who now streams a show on the social media network X. Merlo, whose parents are Argentine, traveled to Argentina with Carlson to meet Milei’s team. The lobbyist has advised Milei’s team and helped connect it with Republican politicians in the U.S.
Since Milei’s win, Merlo has helped connect Milei’s team with Cruz and Rep. María Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.). Recently, Milei’s newly tapped foreign minister, Diana Mondino, spoke with Salazar, who is planning to travel to Milei’s inauguration with a delegation of five or six U.S. Republicans, Merlo said.
“What you have in the region is a lot of center-left, some far left and a few U.S.-hating governments,” Merlo said. “For Latin Americanists in the Republican Party, it’s great to see a president that says he wants nothing to do with China, who condemns what’s happening in Venezuela and wants nothing to do with Cuba.”
Milei could also benefit from close ties with the U.S. conservative movement. Alliances with Trump and former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro help give credibility to a president-elect who that is even more of an outsider than either of those two leaders, who at least had experience in corporate America and with Brazil’s military establishment, according to Argentine political analyst Ana Iparraguirre. A Trump victory next year could, in particular, provide political cover for Milei to execute some of his more audacious proposals.
The right is also seeking to make inroads.
Ten conservative House Republicans, led by Reps. Chip Roy (Tex.) and Salazar, sent a letter last Wednesday congratulating Milei and offering to work with him. “Your message of freedom, liberty, and advancing economic prosperity through limited government and fiscal responsibility has united the Argentine people in a historic way,” the letter said.
Grover Norquist, president of the anti-tax group Americans for Tax Reform, said Milei’s advisers had asked him to put together a list of conservatives in the United States to invite to the inauguration. Norquist will travel to Buenos Aires as well and plans to meet with Milei’s finance adviser and other officials.
“He’s a well-read guy; his speeches are so articulate compared to what the press is always saying about him,” Norquist said. “We mostly want to ask how he wants to do things and what we can do to be helpful.”
Isaac Arnsdorf in Iowa and David Feliba in Buenos Aires contributed to this report.
