PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) 鈥� met Thursday at his Mar-a-Lago club with Argentine President , the first foreign leader to meet with the president-elect since his victory in last week's election.
The meeting was confirmed by a person who insisted on anonymity to discuss an event that hadn't yet been announced publicly. The person said the meeting went well and said Milei also met with investors.
A short time later, Milei, a self-described 鈥渁narcho-capitalist鈥� and frequent recipient of Trump praise, addressed the America First Policy Institute gala at Mar-a-Lago. He spoke briefly in English, then gave a longer speech in Spanish, pausing to allow an interpreter to translate, in which he slammed left-wing ideologies and saluted Elon Musk, the owner of X, saying his social media site is helping to 鈥渟ave humanity.鈥�
Milei criticized a political ruling class that he said was responsible for a system that used unfair tax systems to force 鈥渢he redistribution of wealth at gunpoint.鈥�
The president of Argentina also congratulated Trump on his 鈥渞esounding victory鈥� , saying, 鈥淭oday the winds of freedom are blowing much stronger鈥� and calling the victory 鈥減roof positive that the forces of heaven are on our side.鈥�
Trump also spoke to the gala crowd, congratulating Milei 鈥渇or the job you've done for Argentina鈥� and saying it was an 鈥渉onor鈥� to have Argentina's president at his club.
鈥淭he job you've done is incredible. Make Argentina Great Again, you know, MAGA. He's a MAGA person,鈥� Trump said to applause. 鈥淎nd you know, he's doing that.鈥�
Shortly after Milei鈥檚 election in November 2023, Trump posted on social media, 鈥淵ou will turn your country around and truly Make Argentina Great Again!鈥�
Milei first met Trump in February at the Conservative Political Action Conference, or CPAC, in the Washington area. He has openly declared his admiration for Trump and when he saw him, he rushed to him screaming 鈥減resident!鈥� and gave him a close hug before they posed for pictures.
The Argentine president is known for his eccentric personality and first made a name for himself by shouting against Argentina鈥檚 鈥減olitical caste鈥� on television. The right-wing populist campaigned with a chainsaw as his prop to symbolize his plans to slash public spending and scrap government ministries.
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Gomez Licon reported from Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Adriana Gomez Licon And Michelle L. Price, The Associated Press
