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Trump (l), Milei: “Let’s make Argentina great again”
Photo: Argentine Presidency / REUTERS
Argentina's ultra-libertarian leader Javier Milei met former US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of a meeting of American conservatives in Washington.
"Let's make Argentina great again," Trump said backstage at the CPAC conference, alluding to his political motto and hugging Milei.
“Long live freedom, damn it,” replied Milei with his own campaign slogan.
Trump is seeking another term in office in the United States in November's presidential election.
On Saturday he won the Republican primary in the state of South Carolina, further extending his lead over his internal party rivals.
“You were a great president, I hope you will be again,” Milei said to Trump.
The ex-president replied: “Thank you, I promise you.”
In his speech at the CPAC conference, Milei spoke out against government intervention in the economy and abortion rights.
“There is no place for socialism,” he said.
For his rather dry lecture, the economist received repeated applause at the meeting of right-wing conservatives in the large ballroom of a conference hotel in Washington.
Since taking office in December, Milei has been trying to open up Argentina's previously heavily regulated economy.
However, he does not have a majority in Congress; he recently clashed with several governors of the South American country in a dispute over money.
Argentina is in a serious economic crisis.
The inflation rate is over 250 percent, and around 40 percent of people in the once rich country live below the poverty line.
South America's second largest economy suffers from a bloated state apparatus, low industrial productivity and a large shadow economy that deprives the state of a lot of tax revenue.
The national currency, the peso, continues to lose value against the US dollar and the mountain of debt is constantly growing.
wal/dpa