Donald Trump met with Argentine President Javier Milei at his Mar-a-Lago club on Thursday, the first foreign leader to meet the president-elect since his victory in last week’s election.
The meeting was confirmed by a person who insisted on anonymity to discuss an event that had not yet been publicly announced. The person said the meeting went well and that Milei also met with investors.
A short time later, Milei, a self-described “anarcho-capitalist” and frequent recipient of Trump praise, addressed the America First Policy Institute gala at Mar-a-Lago. He denounced left-wing ideologies and saluted Elon Musk, the owner of X, saying his social media site is helping “save humanity.”
Trump also spoke to the gala audience, congratulating Milei “on the work you have done for Argentina” and saying it was an “honor” to have the Argentine president at Mar-a-Lago.
“The work you have done is incredible. Make Argentina great again, you know, MAGA. He is a MAGA person,” Trump said to applause. “And you know what, he does.”
Shortly after Milei’s election in November 2023, Trump posted on social media: “You will change your country and truly make Argentina great again!”
Milei first met Trump in February at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), in the Washington area. He has openly expressed his admiration for Trump and when he saw him, he rushed over and shouted “president!” and gave him a big hug before they posed for the photo.
The Argentine president is known for his eccentric personality and first made a name for himself by shouting against Argentina’s ‘political caste’ on television. The right-wing populist campaigned with a chainsaw as a prop to symbolize his plans to cut government spending and cut ministries.
