President Javier Milei of Argentina has made waves on the international stage with a whirlwind tour of the United States, championing the virtues of capitalism and seeking to entice global business leaders to invest in his embattled nation. His thirteenth trip to the U.S. since taking office in December 2023 comes at a time of extraordinary political and economic turbulence, both at home and abroad. Meanwhile, the American political landscape is roiled by a contentious government shutdown, the fallout from a controversial bailout to Argentina, and mounting criticism from lawmakers and labor unions.
On November 6, 2025, Milei took center stage at the American Business Forum (ABF) in Miami, Florida, delivering a passionate plea to a crowd of influential businesspeople. "I want to invite you to invest in this country and demonstrate the power and moral superiority of capitalism, to be part of the redemption that the Argentine people need and that will serve as an example for the rest of the world," Milei declared, according to reporting from the Buenos Aires Herald. The ABF, which bills itself as "the global leadership summit of the world," drew a star-studded roster of attendees this year, including former U.S. President Donald Trump, soccer legend Lionel Messi, tennis icon Rafael Nadal, and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
Milei’s appearance at the ABF was just the beginning of a packed itinerary. Later that day, he attended the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), a gathering known for its right-wing leanings, and joined a gala dinner at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach. In a moment that quickly went viral, Milei danced on stage to the Village People's classic "YMCA," underscoring his flair for the dramatic and his embrace of Western pop culture. During his speech at CPAC, he offered effusive thanks to Trump for the U.S. bailout of Argentina, calling it "an unprecedented gesture that we Argentines will never forget and that will forever remain a milestone in our bilateral relations." He added, "Both the Trump administration and ours—in some way—embody the spirit of the times, a shift toward truth, toward market optimism, toward reconnecting with Western values."
But not everyone in the U.S. is applauding the bailout. The $20 billion rescue package has become a lightning rod for criticism in American political circles, especially as the country grapples with the longest government shutdown in its history. On November 7, 2025, Congresswoman Haley Stevens of Michigan introduced the American Manufacturers over Argentine Bailouts Act, a bill designed to redirect the bailout funds back to U.S. manufacturers. According to a press statement cited by Quiver Quantitative, Stevens argued that "this change prioritizes American workers and helps stabilize local production and costs." The bill seeks to block the use of the Exchange Stabilization Fund for foreign bailouts, reallocate the money for manufacturing relief, and require compensation for U.S. manufacturers hurt by tariff changes. Stevens also criticized former President Trump’s tariffs, saying they "have created cost increases and uncertainty" for Michigan's manufacturing sector.
Stevens' legislative push comes amid growing frustration over the ongoing government shutdown, now in its 37th day. Federal officials, acting on orders from Trump, began cutting the number of flights at the nation’s busiest airports by 4% on November 7, with plans to escalate those cuts to 10% the following week. The stated aim is to "relieve pressure" on air traffic controllers, who have been working without pay for five weeks due to the shutdown. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Brian Bedford announced the cuts on November 5, noting that cargo flights would also be affected. The impact is already being felt coast to coast, with delays, cancellations, and mounting chaos at airports.
The economic pain doesn’t stop there. The shutdown has furloughed approximately 670,000 federal workers, while forcing another 750,000 to work without pay. Meanwhile, 43 million Americans who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have not been receiving their benefits, deepening the hardship for families already struggling to make ends meet. Unions and labor groups have been vocal in their condemnation. The AFL-CIO issued a statement warning that "tens of thousands of public service workers are being forced to work without pay. The shutdown reduces safety oversight, endangering public safety. The livelihood of civil servants should not be reduced to political bargaining chips. The urgent need is to prioritize the safety of transportation systems, workers, and passengers."
Political leaders at the state level are also sounding the alarm. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has argued that the airline cuts will inflict "damage to the New York State economy, impacting both small and large businesses, in addition to crippling the ability of many to travel and causing even worse price increases for consumers of products that shippers have more trouble delivering." Other governors whose states host major air hubs have echoed her concerns, warning of cascading economic consequences as the holiday season approaches.
Amid this backdrop of economic strain and political discord, the recent U.S. midterm elections have added another layer of complexity. On October 26, 2025, Milei’s party celebrated a significant victory in Argentina’s midterms, a development the president touted in his Miami speech. Meanwhile, in the United States, Democrats scored decisive wins in New York, New Jersey, and Virginia, with Zohran Mamdani’s election as New York City mayor drawing particular attention. These results have been interpreted by many as a repudiation of "MAGA politics" and a mandate for change, though Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune offered a different perspective. On November 7, he stated, "it is the rank-and-file people in the Democrat Party, not the Democrat leaders who will solve this shutdown. They will rise up and rein in the extreme left elements of their party that are responsible for this."
Back in New York City on November 7, Milei met privately with executives from major global companies at the Council of the Americas, laying out his administration’s plans for fiscal, labor, and tax reforms. Representatives from Morgan Stanley, Pepsico, Glencore, FedEx, Pfizer, Cisco, Merck, Continental Grain Company, AES Corporation, and Newmont Corporation were among those in attendance. The Argentine leader fielded questions and sought to reassure potential investors that his government is committed to market-friendly policies and economic stability.
After wrapping up his U.S. meetings, Milei departed for Bolivia on the evening of November 7. There, he is scheduled to attend the inaugural session of the Plurinational National Legislative Assembly and the inauguration of president-elect Rodrigo Paz Pereira on November 9. As he continues his diplomatic tour, Milei remains determined to position Argentina as a beacon of free-market reform and to rally international support for his economic agenda.
The 2025 edition of the American Business Forum marked several firsts: its inaugural Miami venue and a speaker lineup dominated by right-wing and conservative leaders, a notable shift from previous years when the event featured a broader ideological mix. The ABF’s evolution reflects the changing currents in global politics—and the growing influence of leaders like Milei who are eager to stake their claim on the world stage.
As Argentina seeks redemption through foreign investment and the U.S. reckons with the consequences of its own political battles, the fates of these two nations remain deeply intertwined. The coming weeks will test the resolve of leaders on both sides of the hemisphere—and the patience of citizens waiting for relief.
