A fragment of the speech Argentine President Javier Milei delivered at the United Nations General Assembly is almost a word-for-word copy of a speech fictional United States President Josiah Bartlet gave in the TV show The West Wing. 

Milei made his first presentation in front of the international organization on September 24. In his speech, he accused the UN of promoting a “socialist” and “collectivist” agenda and criticized its actions aimed at tackling climate change and ending world hunger. He also said that Argentina would abandon its long tradition of neutrality regarding world conflicts.

At one point, the president spoke about what his government would stand for and said the following words: 

“We believe in freedom of expression for all; we believe in freedom of worship for all; we believe in freedom of commerce for all and we believe in limited governments, all of them. And because in these times what happens in one country quickly affects what happens in others, we believe that everyone should live free of tyranny and oppression, be that in the form of political oppression, economic slavery, or religious fanaticism. This fundamental idea cannot remain merely as words; it must be supported in facts, diplomatically, economically, and materially.”

In episode 15 of season 4 of The West Wing (titled “Inauguration: Part 2 – Over There”), Bartlet delivers the following lines to three of his cabinet members. 

“We’re for freedom of speech everywhere. We’re for freedom to worship everywhere. We’re for freedom to learn… for everybody. And because in our time, you can build a bomb in your country and bring it to my country, what goes on in your country is very much my business. And so we are for freedom from tyranny, everywhere, whether in the guise of political oppression […] or economic slavery […] or religious fanaticism […] That most fundamental idea cannot be met with merely our support. It has to be met with our strength. Diplomatically, economically, materially. 

Journalist Carlos Pagni from La Nación was the first to flag what he called the “remarkable resemblance” between the two fragments. Pagni speculated that the most likely explanation for the parallels between Milei and Bartlet’s speeches is the fact that presidential advisor Santiago Caputo is a huge fan of the show. 

The West Wing was a TV show that aired on U.S. network NBC for 7 seasons between 1999 and 2006. Created by Aaron Sorkin, it followed Bartlet and his staff as they navigated the tribulations of Washington and world politics, crisscrossed with the tension that arouse from the characters personal lives and dramas. 

A pro-choice, liberal progressive democrat, the fictional president played by Martin Sheen sat on the opposite ideological spectrum of the anarcho-libertarian Argentine leader. A former governor of a notable blue state like New Hampshire, Josiah Bartlet was an intellectual and a family man who had 3 daughters and a Nobel Prize in Economics (an award Milei himself stated he will “probably” get once his economic program delivers the results he expects). 

In the last two US elections, several members of the original cast have expressed their support of democratic candidates against Donald Trump. In 2021, Bradley Whitford, Dulé Hill and Richard Schiff — who played the closest presidential aides — reunited for a virtual event organized by Joe Biden’s inaugural committee. Last month, Sorkin, Sheen, and other cast members were invited to the White House by First Lady Jill Biden, for an event to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the show.