President Javier Milei met with Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk at the Tesla factory in Austin, Texas, during his visit to the United States. 

The pair agreed to organize a “large event” in Argentina to “promote the ideas of liberty,” according to a government communiqué.

They also bonded over their support for free markets, the role of tech in development, and the need to cut red tape in order to entice investors. Visibly moved, the Argentine head of state thanked Musk “for everything you are doing for the world.” 

Milei offered to support Musk with the judicial travails of his social media platform, X, in Brazil, where the government is attempting to tackle disinformation and hate speech. The statement described this as “judicial and political conflict.”

Former president Mauricio Macri praised the meeting via social media. 

“It’s so good to see Argentina integrating into the world again,” he posted.

Elon Musk’s endorsement of Javier Milei

In February, the National Communications Entity (ENACOM, by its Spanish acronym) authorized the satellite internet provider Starlink to operate in Argentina. In addition to SpaceX, X and Tesla, Musk also serves as the company’s CEO.

At the time, Presidential Spokesman Manuel Adorni said that the decision would create “greater freedom, investment, and competition in the satellite internet market.” Adorni also declared that the move signaled Argentina’s “return to the center of the international debate and to having mature relationships with free countries.”

Milei has separately indicated that Musk has expressed interest in Argentina’s lithium reserves.

Musk has long been an admirer of the Argentine president. Shortly after Milei defeated then Economy Minister Sergio Massa in November’s runoff election, the Paypal co-founder posted, “Prosperity is ahead for Argentina.” The message was published in response to an account called “End Wokeness,” which had posted a picture of Milei standing in front of a Gadsden flag.

In January, Musk again “praised” the self-styled anarchocapitalist, this time in a tweet containing an image of a man and woman engaged in sexual intercourse, with the man watching a video of Milei’s address at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.