Buenos Aires Herald 
Donald Trump won the United States 2024 elections and Argentine President Javier Milei wasted no time in welcoming his victory. He congratulated United States president-elect Donald Trump on his “formidable electoral victory,” and offered his help so the Republican candidate can carry out his “task.”
“Now, Make America Great Again,” Milei said in an X post published on Wednesday morning, a few hours after Trump’s electoral win was confirmed. He added that the former (and soon to be again) U.S. President could “count on Argentina” and sent him “success and blessings.”
Milei also posted two AI-generated images of Trump hugging a lion — the animal he identifies himself with. “Make America great again. Long live freedom, dammit,” he wrote.
The Argentine Foreign Ministry also formally congratulated Trump, sending him “warm salutations.”
“Argentina reassures its commitment to continue strengthening our alliance and working for our historical ties of friendship, to benefit both our countries and our people.”
Right-wing Latin American leaders like El Salvador President Nayib Bukele and former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro also saluted Trump on his win. Center-right Uruguay President Luis Lacalle Pou also congratulated him in an X post.
“Today, we witness the resurgence of a true warrior,” wrote Bolsonaro in an X post. “A man who, even after facing a brutal electoral process in 2020 and an unjustifiable judicial persecution, has risen again, as few in history have managed to do.”
While Bukele sent Trump “blessings,” Lacalle Pou said he looks forward to working with the new government to strengthen their relationship.
On the other side of the political spectrum, Brazilian President Lula Da Silva also saluted Trump. He said that “democracy is the people’s voice and should always be respected,” wishing him luck and success.
“The world needs dialogue and joint efforts to have more peace, development, and prosperity.”
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Milei’s admiration for Donald Trump
Milei has been very vocal about his admiration for Trump. The two met once backstage at a conservative conference in Washington in February. It was a brief encounter in which the pair hugged and praised each other, with Milei visibly moved. But despite his several visits to the U.S. since becoming Argentine president, he hasn’t scheduled a formal meeting with Trump.
Trump mentioned Milei in his speech during that event, calling him “a great gentleman,” and adding that “he was MAGA, Make Argentina Great Again.” That was not the only time Trump spoke publicly about Milei. In January, he made a post on social media that he was looking forward to “helping him in the future.” In March, during an event, he said: “[Milei] loves Trump; I love him because he loves Trump.”
Officials in the Argentine presidential palace were closely following the elections on Tuesday, hoping for a Trump win. They told Herald sister publication Ambito that his victory would be “very beneficial for Argentina” and could also have a positive impact on the relationship with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
The Republican’s victory fits Milei like a glove. During his electoral campaign in 2023, Milei said his foreign policy would be to politically align with the U.S. and Israel. Despite not seeing eye to eye with U.S. President Joe Biden on issues like climate change, he has stuck to his promise to move lock in step with Washington. With Trump back in the White House, Milei’s agenda will likely be far more attuned with the future U.S. administration.
Last week, Diana Mondino was immediately removed from her role as Foreign Minister minutes after voting against the U.S. trade embargo on Cuba in the United Nations General Assembly. The motion against the embargo was backed by 187 countries and only rejected by the U.S. and Israel.
She was swiftly replaced by Gerardo Werthein, who had been serving as Argentine ambassador to the U.S. Werthein said he would work strictly in line with Milei’s foreign policy. The government added that they will audit the Foreign Ministry “to identify promoters of anti-freedom agendas.” Milei is yet to appoint a new ambassador to the U.S.
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