Donald Trump just saved Argentina. But not because he cares about Argentina.
Javier Milei is Argentina’s new president, a right-wing populist, steering his country to authoritarianism. He calls himself a libertarian, a champion of “free markets” and “radical cuts” to government. His rallies are filled with slogans about freedom, and at one infamous event, he waved a chainsaw on stage to symbolize tearing down the state. Sound familiar?
But when Argentina’s economy spiraled into crisis because he dismantled it, Milei didn’t turn to the free market. He turned to another right-wing populist, steering his country to authoritarianism, but one with money, Donald Trump.
On Monday, Trump’s Treasury Secretary announced the U.S. would step in with dollar support to halt a financial panic. Markets rebounded instantly. Milei praised Trump with his famous cry: “¡Viva la libertad, carajo!” — “Long live freedom, damn it!”
The irony is impossible to miss. Milei slashed education, healthcare, and social programs while demanding loyalty to his own rule. Trump, meanwhile, framed the bailout as defending “democracy.” In reality, both men sell the language of freedom while tightening control over their citizens.
The Cultural Lens
This isn’t just economics. It’s culture.
Argentina under Milei, like the US under Trump, operates on high power distance. Leaders aren’t seen as public servants; they are the authority itself. Citizens are expected to obey, not question or push for change.
It’s also a clear example of particularism, rules applied depending on relationships. Trump didn’t provide bailout support because Argentina met universal standards of transparency or reform. He did it because Milei is politically loyal to Trump. In this worldview, contracts and institutions are negotiable. Loyalty is the only real currency.
Contrast that with the rules-based systems of the European Union. In Brussels, financial aid is conditional. A government must meet stringent requirements in terms of democracy, human rights, and fiscal responsibility. That’s universalism, the same rules apply to everyone.
But in Trump’s world, rules are tools. He bends them to serve his interests and those of his allies. Aid is not about strengthening economies or protecting people. It’s about expanding a personal network of authoritarian populists.
This also reflects a high-context political culture. In such systems, words are symbolic, not literal. “Freedom” doesn’t mean freedom; it means allegiance to the leader’s vision. Commitments are committed to only when convenient otherwise they are forgotten. Power is exercised through relationships, not through transparent rules.
Why It Matters
This isn’t just about Argentina. It’s about the global architecture of power.
Trump’s bailout reveals a strategy: build an international alliance of strongmen who can be relied on for loyalty, not accountability. It undermines the institutions, trade agreements, aid contracts, and global finance rules that have structured the world order for decades.
The costs are direct and unavoidable:
American taxpayers will pay. Bailouts run into the billions, and with tax cuts for corporations and billionaires, ordinary citizens will shoulder the burden.
Democracy is weakened. Both in Argentina and the US, “freedom” is recast as obedience to leaders. Citizens are only free to do what the leader says is free.
Authoritarian populism spreads. Trump is not just influencing US politics; he is actively constructing a global network of rulers who mirror his methods.
Trump’s foreign policy is not about America’s national interest at all. It’s about Trump’s personal interest. By supporting Milei, he isn’t strengthening democracy or trade. He’s protecting a fellow authoritarian while selling the bill to the American people.
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