FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — An increasing number of world leaders are announcing their attendance for President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, with Argentine President Javier Milei confirming his plans to participate in a move that deviates from U.S. political customs, which have traditionally kept foreign dignitaries at bay during presidential transitions.
Milei’s spokesperson, Manuel Adorni, informed reporters via text message that Trump had officially invited the Argentine president, marking a historic moment as it is the first time such an invitation has been extended to a leader from Argentina. Additionally, the Salvadoran ambassador in the U.S. mentioned that President Nayib Bukele has also been invited but has yet to decide if he will attend.
Historically, no foreign head of state has made an official journey to the U.S. specifically for an inauguration.
During a Monday press session, Trump discussed his invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping, noting that Xi has not yet confirmed or declined his attendance. When prompted about other world leaders who received invitations, Trump acknowledged that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had not been formally invited, although he expressed that he would welcome Zelenskyy should he choose to attend.
While Trump’s transition team remained unresponsive to queries for further details, spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt had previously confirmed the invitations extended to global leaders. Trump elaborated that many world leaders have reached out to him following questions regarding his invitation list.
Ambassador Milena Mayorga of El Salvador stated on a radio station that she’s awaiting Bukele’s decision regarding the invitation, indicating that security concerns are still under consideration.
Javier Milei became the first national leader to meet with Trump following the election, making the trip from Buenos Aires to the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago estate. Describing himself as “anarcho-capitalist,” Milei has garnered endorsements from notable figures such as billionaire Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, who will lead a new “Department of Government Efficiency.” This department aims to terminate federal jobs, reduce programs, and eliminate federal regulations.
In his communication with the media, Adorni mentioned that Trump is establishing an organization comparable to Milei’s recently formed ministry for deregulation in Argentina. Known for utilizing a chainsaw as a campaign symbol to promote budget cuts, Milei has instituted various austerity measures, including the termination of thousands of government employees, suspension of public infrastructure development, and wage and pension freezes that lag behind inflation rates.
Economists remain cautiously optimistic about Milei’s radical approaches, believing they might be the necessary steps to stabilize Argentina’s economy, which often teeters on the brink of crisis.
Milei is hopeful that maintaining strong diplomatic relations with the United States can facilitate a fresh agreement with the International Monetary Fund, alleviating some of the pressure from the significant debt repayments Argentina faces in the upcoming year.