President Javier Milei’s whirlwind tour of the United States this November was nothing short of a diplomatic and political sprint, packed with symbolism, economic overtures, and a healthy dose of spectacle. The Argentine leader’s trip, spanning Miami, Palm Beach, and New York, was designed to court investors, reinforce his government’s reformist agenda, and reaffirm his personal and political alliances—both spiritual and secular.
Milei touched down at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York at 12:45 a.m. local time on November 7, 2025, after a high-profile swing through Florida. Traveling with him were his core team: Chancellor Pablo Quirno (making his international debut in the role), Economy Minister Luis Caputo, Secretary General Karina Milei, and Ambassador Alec Oxenford. Their arrival came straight from Palm Beach, where the president had just addressed a gala at Mar-a-Lago, the famed complex of former U.S. President Donald Trump, organized by the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), as reported by Clarín and Canal 26.
The Mar-a-Lago gala was a highlight in itself. Milei, dressed in a tuxedo, entered to the raucous notes of “Panic Show” by La Renga, greeting almost everyone in attendance. Before taking the stage, he danced to “YMCA” by Village People—a move reminiscent of Trump’s own campaign trail antics, and one that quickly went viral. The crowd responded with enthusiastic applause and requests for photos, underscoring Milei’s growing profile among American conservatives. During his speech, he declared, “Our government spent the last two years preventing Argentina from falling off a precipice,” and called on supporters to “consolidate the path we have started.” He didn’t shy from criticism of Argentina’s left-wing opposition either, stating, “The socialists in our country accuse us of surrendering sovereignty. They understand sovereignty as destroying the national currency and multiplying poverty and misery.”
Earlier that day in Miami, Milei had taken the stage at the America Business Forum, a star-studded event at the Kaseya Center attended by the likes of Donald Trump, Lionel Messi, tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams, FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, and CEOs from major global firms. According to La Nación and Clarín, Milei used the forum to defend capitalism as “the most moral model of all existing ones” and to position Argentina’s recent legislative elections as a “plebiscite between two models of country: that of capitalism or that of servitude.” He boasted that, “In December we will have the most reformist Congress in Argentine history,” outlining plans for labor modernization, deregulation, tax reductions, and reforms to the criminal code to reinforce legal security and crack down on economic crime.
The Miami stop was not just about speeches. Milei was awarded the symbolic keys to the city by Mayor Francis Suarez, who praised his pro-capitalist and anti-communist stance, saying, “It is part of the city’s DNA to be free and to support free trade.” The president also shared the stage with Messi, noting with a grin, “I can also congratulate a lefty,” in a nod to the footballer’s famed left foot.
After a few hours’ rest in a Manhattan hotel on 5th Avenue, Milei’s agenda in New York was laser-focused. At 10 a.m. on November 7, he delivered a closed-door address at the Council of the Americas, titled “New Investment Opportunities in Argentina.” The audience was a select group of U.S. investors and executives from companies such as Continental Grain Company, Newmont Corporation, Morgan Stanley, Salesforce, PepsiCo, Pfizer, Merck, FedEx, and Cisco Systems. As TN and Reuters noted, Milei reaffirmed his government’s commitment to fiscal balance, monetary stability, deregulation, tax predictability, and tougher penalties for economic crimes. The sectors spotlighted—energy, mining, technology, food, and health—were presented as ripe for a new wave of capital. “The government’s roadmap aligns with investment plans already taking shape,” Milei told the group, aiming to dispel doubts about Argentina’s legislative framework and its future trajectory.
Throughout the trip, Milei’s rhetoric was combative and unapologetic. At the America Business Forum, he urged attendees not to be “intimidated by some local results,” referencing the election of Democrat Zohran Mamdani as New York’s mayor. He positioned his administration as a bulwark against what he called the “advance of socialism,” both in Argentina and, pointedly, on the U.S. East Coast. “Two out of three Argentines do not want 21st-century socialism,” he asserted, crediting his party’s election victory to the public’s rejection of statist policies.
But the president’s schedule wasn’t all business. Before departing New York, Milei made a personal pilgrimage to the Ohel—the mausoleum in Queens of Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the revered Rebbe of Lubavitch. This site holds deep spiritual meaning for Milei, who has visited both before and after key electoral milestones to seek blessings and offer thanks. As La Nación reported, this ritual has become a fixture of his visits to the United States since 2023, underscoring the blend of personal faith and political symbolism that characterizes his public image.
By the evening of November 7, Milei and his delegation were already en route to Bolivia. There, they planned to attend the inauguration of President Rodrigo Paz Pereira on November 8, including the Solemn Inaugural Session of the Plurinational Legislative Assembly and the ceremonial handover of the presidential baton. The whirlwind tour would conclude with a return to Buenos Aires later that same day.
Reactions to Milei’s tour were mixed. Supporters in Argentina and among U.S. conservatives hailed his assertive defense of free-market principles and his overtures to international investors. Critics, particularly from Argentina’s left and some labor leaders, warned of the risks posed by rapid deregulation and closer ties with the United States, expressing concern about the potential social costs and the lack of political consensus at home. As Clarín highlighted, opposition voices like Senator Eduardo “Wado” de Pedro cautioned that deals with the U.S. and the IMF could “mortgage Argentina’s future” if not carefully negotiated.
Meanwhile, the international business community appeared to take notice. Jamie Dimon, CEO of JP Morgan, told Reuters that Argentina “may not ultimately need a bank loan” given the surge of interest from global investors, estimating that up to $100 billion in foreign capital could return to the country if Milei’s reforms take hold.
From the energetic dance at Mar-a-Lago to the solemn visit in Queens, Milei’s U.S. tour was a study in contrasts—part showmanship, part statesmanship, and all high stakes. The message to the world was clear: Argentina, under Milei, is open for business, ready for reform, and determined to chart a new course, whatever critics at home or abroad might say.
