Argentine President Javier Milei, often lauded by MAGA supporters and Donald Trump himself, doesn’t neatly align with Trump’s political ideology, according to a new report by The Economist. While Trump and his allies reportedly view Milei as a “role model,” the libertarian leader’s philosophy diverges significantly from the former U.S. president’s approach.
“Argentina’s president is idolized by the Trumpian right,” The Economist notes. “They should get to know him better.” Milei, who assumed office in December 2023, has gained international attention for his radical economic ideas and fiery rhetoric. However, as The Economist highlights, his ideological roots differ from those of populist leaders like Trump. “The left detests him and the Trumpian right embraces him, but he truly belongs to neither group,” the report states.
Rather than following the protectionist, populist playbook often associated with Trump, Milei champions principles of libertarianism. “He has shown that the continual expansion of the state is not inevitable. And he is a principled rebuke to opportunistic populism, of the sort practiced by Donald Trump,” the report continues. “Mr. Milei believes in free trade and free markets, not protectionism; fiscal discipline, not reckless borrowing; and, instead of spinning popular fantasies, brutal public truth-telling.”
The article also delves into the philosophical foundations of Milei’s policies, emphasizing his commitment to economic freedom and disdain for state interference. “A true believer in open markets and individual liberty, he has a quasi-religious zeal for economic freedom, a hatred of socialism and, as he told us in an interview this week, ‘infinite’ contempt for the state,” the report says. Unlike Trump’s industrial policy and tariff-heavy agenda, Milei advocates for private-sector-led trade without domestic interference, even engaging with Chinese firms.
New York University professor and authoritarianism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat also weighed in, casting doubt on Milei’s populist image. “This is key: Mr. Chainsaw, the fake populist, spent years working for one of Argentina’s richest billionaires: a class that has contempt for laws, regulations, and bureaucracies that hinder their plunder,” she said.
While Milei’s bold rhetoric may resonate with Trump’s base, his economic libertarianism and commitment to fiscal discipline reveal stark differences from Trump’s policies. As Milei continues to reshape Argentina’s political landscape, his philosophy serves as both an inspiration and a challenge to global populist movements.