Talk about perfect timing. As a crypto scandal threatens to tarnish his maverick image back home, Argentina’s Javier Milei has found refuge in Washington’s friendly conservative circles – and he’s making the most of it.
The highlight reel from Thursday reads like a libertarian fever dream: There’s Milei, handing Elon Musk a gleaming chainsaw (yes, really) at CPAC while the tech billionaire, decked out in shades and chains like a Silicon Valley rock star, brandishes it as “The chainsaw of all bureaucracy.” Hours later, he’s talking shop with IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva, hunting for a deal to jumpstart Argentina’s economy.
Back in Buenos Aires, things aren’t quite as rosy. Milei’s been taking heat since last Friday when he backed a memecoin called Libra that crashed faster than you can say “crypto winter.” Making matters worse, the token’s creator allegedly bragged about paying off Milei’s sister Karina – his closest advisor – though both sides deny any funny business.
But Washington’s giving Milei exactly what he needs right now: a chance to change the channel. While he’s been working the DC circuit, Argentina’s senate just handed him a win by killing primary elections – a move that could boost his odds in October’s crucial midterms.
According to McLarty Associates’ Kezia McKeague, the DC trip was originally planned to patch up relations with the Trump administration and finalize an IMF deal, but it’s now serving a bonus purpose of helping with domestic damage control.
Until the crypto mess, Milei had been on a roll. His take-no-prisoners approach to Argentina’s bloated budget was winning over investors, and inflation was finally cooling. Even the brutal recession hadn’t dented his popularity, thanks largely to his social media savvy and constant jabs at the political establishment.
The real test comes Saturday when Milei takes the stage at CPAC, where he’s scheduled to speak the same day as Trump. For a president looking to recapture his mojo, there’s probably no better audience than a room full of conservatives who’ve embraced him as one of their own.
Benjamin Gedan from the Wilson Center summed up Milei’s U.S. appeal perfectly – in Washington’s eyes, he’s something of a miracle worker who managed to tame inflation and bring stability to Argentina’s famously volatile economy.
