Donald Trump (left) and Javier Milari (right) met behind the scenes at the Conservative Political Action Conference – Copyright Argentina’s Presidency Press Office/AFP Handout

By The Smartencyclopedia Staff & Agencies

Washington, D.C. — Argentine President Javier Milei and former U.S. President Donald Trump shared a platform at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Washington on Saturday, echoing calls to “make Argentina great again.” The meeting between the right-wing leaders, both known for their distinctive hair, fiery rhetoric, and rejection of traditional political norms, took place behind the scenes at the high-profile conservative conference.

The encounter drew parallels to Trump’s famous electoral slogan, “Make America Great Again” (MAGA), as both leaders posed for photos backstage. Trump playfully adapted the phrase, stating, “Make Argentina great again.” Meanwhile, Milei, renowned for his spicy Spanish-language oratory, reiterated his slogan: “Long live freedom, damn it!”

Despite facing numerous legal challenges, Trump is positioning himself for a potential rematch with President Joe Biden in the upcoming November elections, having lost to the Democrat in 2020. At CPAC, where Trump enjoys widespread popularity, he described Milei as having “achieved a lot” and endorsed him as part of the “MAGA” movement, emphasizing the adaptability of the slogan to either country’s name.

Elected last year amid public frustration over decades of economic crises, Milei, a right-wing figure, has implemented significant economic deregulation through presidential decrees. Additionally, he has devalued the peso and reduced state subsidies as part of his economic agenda.

During his CPAC speech, Trump commended Milei as a “great gentleman” who embodies the spirit of “MAGA.” The acronym, synonymous with Trump’s political brand, seamlessly integrates with the goal of revitalizing Argentina, according to Trump.

In Milei’s address, he also invoked “MAGA” while emphasizing his commitment to revitalizing Argentina. Warning of the global dangers posed by socialism, he urged his audience not to relinquish their freedom, urging them to fight for it to avoid falling into misery.

The meeting of these two outspoken leaders at CPAC underscored shared sentiments on nationalist and conservative ideologies, and the adaptation of Trump’s iconic slogan for Argentina marked a symbolic alignment of their political visions.