In just his first four months in office, Javier Milei has taken six international trips, with a focus on the United States where he has met with Elon Musk and even attended CPAC, calling Donald Trump “Mr. President.” Both Milei and former ally Mauricio Macri have garnered support from the international business community, with Milei gaining endorsements from influential figures like Stan Druckenmiller and Peter Thiel. Milei’s Austrian economic ideology and positioning on the right of the political spectrum make him an attractive figure for both supporters and detractors alike.
During his visits to the US, Milei has received praise from Druckenmiller, who lauded him as the “only free-market leader of the world.” Druckenmiller highlighted Milei’s fiscal policies, including cutting Social Security by 35 percent and transitioning from a fiscal deficit to a surplus. Milei’s rapid and bold actions in Argentina have garnered attention and support from global financial figures, showing a potential shift towards libertarianism in the global financial sector.
Peter Thiel, another influential figure in the US business community, has expressed his support for Milei’s ideas, believing them to be relevant on a global scale. Thiel, known for his ultra-libertarian views and support of Donald Trump, sees common ground in his beliefs with Milei, particularly in their focus on individualism and the free market. Milei’s appeal to the US business community lies in his alignment with their calls for lower taxes and greater economic freedom.
Milei’s popularity among the US business community is a result of their shared values and political ideologies, particularly with the Republican Party. The rise of libertarianism within the GOP, coupled with Milei’s knowledge of Austrian economics, anti-wokeism, and shared views with Trump, has solidified his position as a hero for those looking to combat leftist populism and promote free-market principles. European members of the “new right” are also finding appeal in Milei’s policies and ideologies.
While Milei has garnered support from international figures like Musk and Thiel, it is crucial for him to focus on domestic issues and actualize his proposed reforms in Argentina. Global support can be beneficial, but true success will require tangible results at home. Milei’s aggressive austerity measures and denial of the population’s suffering from them are points of contention, as is his respect for democratic institutions and attacks on the free press. The outcome of Milei’s relationship with Wall Street and the US elite remains to be seen, as the focus shifts towards productive investment from Argentines to stabilize the country’s economy.
