WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump met Thursday at his Mar-a-Lago club with Argentine President Javier Milei, 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 a meeting that had not yet been publicly announced. The person said the meeting went well and Milei also met with investors.
After meeting with Trump, 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.”
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.
