President Javier Milei finally had his long-awaited meeting with Donald Trump this Saturday and they gave
a big hug within the framework of a conservative conference in Washington
, although the libertarian avoided getting involved in the US political campaign by giving a rather technical speech.
However, he asked the audience
“not to let socialism advance
. ”
Milei's intervention and the possibility of a meeting with the former president
was closely followed by the White House
because the main speaker was Trump, Joe Biden's Democratic rival for the November elections.
The meeting was very brief, within the framework of the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), and barely lasted a minute and a half.
It was when Trump came off the stage after his speech and the song YMCA, by the Village People, was still playing in the background.
Milei was waiting for him and they greeted each other with a big hug.
“Make Argentina great again!" said Trump. "Long live fucking freedom!" Milei responded. They took a photo backstage, while the Argentine made his characteristic gesture with his finger raised. "Thank you for all the work "what he did for me", "he was very generous with me", "I am very happy", the libertarian told him, in reference to
the praise that the magnate gave him when Milei won the presidency
.
The Argentine told Trump that he hoped to see him again and recognized the Republican's performance: "You have been a great president," he told him.
Milei did not stop there, she also
told him that she hoped "he would be President again
. "
That is a phrase that can
cloud the relationship with Joe Biden
, a Democrat and Trump's competitor, at a time when Argentina needs the support of Washington.
Shortly before, Trump had
praised Milei in his speech
: “Argentine President Javier Milei is here and has had a lot of publicity.
He is a great gentleman.
You know: MAGA, Make Argentina Great Again,” he said, evoking his own campaign slogan “Make America Great Again.”
And he added: “He is a fabulous guy and one of the few who can really do it.”
The trip to this conference was delicate for Milei, especially because
it could hurt the White House
with the possibility of a meeting with Trump, President Joe Biden's main rival for re-election.
In fact, several journalists asked Foreign Minister Antony Blinken in Buenos Aires on Friday if the Argentine's participation in the forum bothered the White House.
He diplomatically said that
he couldn't talk about Milei's agenda
.
That's why the meeting was low-key, almost like a coincidence at the foot of the stage.
After the greeting, the leader of Libertad Avanza entered to give his message in the large hall of the convention center that was already half empty after the magnate's speech, which lasted about an hour and a half, longer than expected.
“Long live freedom, damn it!” Milei launched his war cry from the stand, while some of those present lived it.
"Nice day to make the left tremble," she smiled and encouraged the audience.
But he immediately
lowered his tone
and his theoretical speech marked a strong contrast with Trump's, full of anecdotes, ironies and imitations of Biden's supposedly tired and somewhat disoriented walk.
Trump dominated the scene as a kind of campaign showman.
Wearing a dark suit and tie, with his caps on, Milei gave his speech that was more like that of a professor, far from Trump's barricade.
“Given my impact at the Davos conference in which I pointed out that the West is in danger, given the advance of socialist and statist ideas, I will focus on the technical aspects of those political perspectives,” she said.
He talked about Pareto, the hockey stick growth theory and other topics.
“Private property and free markets determine prices and are the basis of economic calculation.
That is why socialism in none of its aspects can work,” he said.
“The more state there is, the more violence, the more price distortion, and the worse the system works,” she added.
He spoke about Argentina, saying that there were 380,000 regulations that hinder economic growth and the measures that the government was taking that give “more freedom to Argentines.”
“
The corrupt caste includes thieving politicians
who put their privileges above the well-being of Argentines, corrupt media outlets that are angry because we took the official line, union members who take care of their business above the people, and professionals "functional people who live by defending these corrupt people and live off the State."
“You will see the fight we are putting up.
But we are not going to give up on making Argentina great again,” he said, recreating Trump's slogan.
However, at the end of his speech he raised the political tone: “The message is the following:
Do not let socialism advance, do not endorse regulations
, do not let the state grow,
do not allow the murderous agenda of abortion
, and do not get carried away by the siren song of social justice.”
At that moment the audience, enthusiastic, stood up.
“I come from a country that bought those stupid ideas but from being one of the richest in the world it is now in 140th place. Don't give up your freedom, fight for your freedom.
If they do not fight for freedom, they will be driven to misery,” he said.
And he said that he wanted to leave a message of optimism: “Argentina seemed like a country of sheep condemned to the poverty that the socialists left us.
When I started my political career I said that I did not come to lead sheep but to awaken lions and I wanted to awaken more lions.
The message of freedom not only led us to the presidency of Argentina, it is awakening throughout the world.
“Do not give up in your fight for freedom.”