Javier Milei, the impassioned and outspoken president of Argentina, known for his right-wing populist stance, shared an exuberant embrace with former US President Donald Trump during a chance encounter at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday. This embrace came on the heels of Milei's discussions with officials from the Biden administration in Buenos Aires the day prior.
Milei and Trump, both towering figures in conservative circles, were among the prominent speakers at CPAC's culmination outside Washington. In a candid backstage moment captured in a video circulated by a Trump campaign staffer, Milei enthusiastically hailed Trump as "President!" and pulled him in for a warm hug before posing for photographs together.
Assuming office in December, Milei's political ascent has drawn parallels to Trump's leadership style, evident in his campaign rhetoric and the adoption of red "Make Argentina Great Again" hats, reminiscent of Trump's own "Make America Great Again" movement. Echoing Trump's populist agenda, Milei was among several foreign dignitaries at CPAC who echoed similar themes on key issues such as immigration and the perceived threat of socialism.
In the video, Trump reciprocates the sentiment by telling Milei, "Make Argentina Great Again," to which Milei responds with his signature phrase, "Long live freedom, damn it!"
Milei's participation at CPAC followed his meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken the previous day. However, tensions arose when a top official in Milei's administration claimed that Marc Stanley, the US ambassador in Buenos Aires, advised against Milei's participation at CPAC, deeming it overly political.
Addressing the gathering at CPAC, Milei urged attendees to resist socialism and oppose increased economic regulations. He also denounced abortion access as part of a "murderous agenda" aimed at reducing population size.
In a passionate plea delivered in Spanish, Milei cautioned against succumbing to the allure of social justice narratives, urging steadfast defense of freedom to avert descent into despair and hardship.
