At the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) outside Washington, Argentine President Javier Milei, a right-wing populist leader, shared an enthusiastic hug with former U.S. President Donald Trump. The encounter was captured in a video where Milei greeted Trump as 'President!' and the two posed for pictures together.
Milei, who took office in December, has drawn inspiration from Trump's political strategies, even adopting red 'Make Argentina Great Again' hats reminiscent of Trump's 'Make America Great Again' campaign. During his CPAC appearance, Milei echoed Trump's views on issues such as migration and the perceived threat of socialism.
Following his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Milei faced controversy as it was alleged that the U.S. ambassador in Buenos Aires, Marc Stanley, advised against his participation at CPAC, citing the conference's political nature. However, Milei's security minister, Patricia Bullrich, defended his presence at the event, emphasizing that Milei was there to deliver a general speech rather than discuss elections.
During his CPAC speech, Milei urged the audience to resist socialism and oppose increased economic regulations. He also condemned abortion access, labeling it a 'murderous agenda' aimed at reducing the population size. Speaking in Spanish, Milei cautioned against being swayed by calls for social justice and emphasized the importance of fighting for freedom to avoid falling into despair.
The State Department did not provide a response to inquiries regarding Milei's participation at CPAC. Milei's presence at the conference underscored his alignment with Trump's political ideology and his commitment to advancing conservative principles in Argentina.
