Martina Jaureguy 
Vice President Victoria Villarruel stood by the controversial comments on racism she made last week, saying that her only goal was to “defend the Argentine team” as well as all Argentines.
“If there are any other interpretations, I’ll ignore them; I’m not offended,” she told the press during a visit to Catamarca. “The most important thing is to support the team that made us so happy, and I think we all agree that we have to thank them, back them and always be on their side.”
The VP’s comments came in the midst of a controversy surrounding the Argentine men’s national football team celebration following their Copa América win. It all started when Enzo Fernández was seen in a live Instagram stream singing a racist and homophobic chant against French players along with the rest of the team, sparking an outcry from the French football body.
Villarruel came out in support of the team and added fuel to the fire. “No colonialist country will intimidate us for a football chant or for speaking a truth they don’t want to admit,” she wrote in an X post, which is still pinned in her profile.
Her comments turned the issue into a diplomatic incident, according to President Milei himself. French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra questioned the Argentine team’s chants, labeling them as “pathetic” and “unacceptable.” Presidential Secretary Karina Milei held an emergency meeting with French ambassador Romain Nadal last Thursday, ahead of the president’s three-day-trip to France to participate in the Olympic Games inauguration on Friday. A bilateral meeting with President Emmanuel Macron is also scheduled for that day.
The French government has not issued a statement on Villarruel’s comments specifically.
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“It wasn’t an appropriate tweet,” Milei told Neura Media on Friday. “You can’t create a diplomatic mess out of a sports issue. But it’s fixed now. Kari fixed it,” he said, referring to his sister and Presidential Secretary.
Milei also downplayed their differences and said they agree “on 95% of things.”
Despite prior criticism, on Tuesday Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni claimed that the situation “didn’t create any dispute” amongst the administration. “It was just a comment that did not represent the government’s position. It made more noise than it should have, it was nothing,” he said. However, he recognized the President and the VP have not spoken in recent days.
Villarruel’s comments, although more direct, were not far-off from what the presidential office’s account had posted on Wednesday: “No government can tell the Argentine champion team what to say, think, or do,” said the post. It also announced that, for that same reason, Former Sports Undersecretariat Julio Garro was fired after saying Lionel Messi should apologize for the chants.
A growing rift?
The incident is the latest evidence of the growing distance between Milei and Villarruel. Although their relationship has had its ups and downs right from the get-go, the VP has seemingly been excluded from several major decisions and appearances.
Villarruel’s inner circle claims all is well with Milei and the rest of the administration. “She doesn’t have an issue with anyone,” said someone close to the vice president. “This all started as an opinion in a tweet, the 5% Milei said they don’t agree on.”
The source admitted Milei and Villarruel last spoke at the Independence Day military parade on July 9. “She hasn’t had the need to speak with him since then. They don’t need to speak to each other every day, but they are in a general group chat where everyone speaks,” the source said.
On the night of July 8, Milei celebrated his long-anticipated May Pact in Tucumán. Governors, politicians from different parties and high-ranking officials were invited, but Villarruel ultimately didn’t attend due to a strong flu. She didn’t miss the military parade the next day, however.
According to the source, Villarruel didn’t get any direct complaint from Milei or anyone from the government, nor from the French embassy. Villarruel also allegedly didn’t receive a call from Karina Milei after her meeting with the French ambassador.
Milei and Villarruel are set to meet again Sunday at the Rural Fair in Palermo, where they are expected to take a picture together and end any rumors of turmoil in the government.
