Milei elogia a Trump mientras el Gobierno enfrenta críticas por inflación y gastos cuestionados

President Javier Milei sat down to discuss his government's direction and found himself reaching across the Atlantic to praise Donald Trump. The American president, Milei said, had accomplished something extraordinary—closing eight global conflicts. He reached for a metaphor: Trump was like Gardel with an electric guitar, like the Rolling Stones with bullets. The comparison was meant to convey power, modernity, and a kind of cultural weight.

But Milei's admiration for Trump was not merely aesthetic. He saw in the American's foreign policy decisions a direct benefit to Argentina. By cutting off Venezuelan funding streams, Trump had starved what Milei called "a bunch of sons of bitches" inside Argentina who had been plotting a coup. Cuban spies, Milei added, had stopped entering the country. In the Middle East, Trump had cut Iranian money. In Argentina itself, Russian influence had dried up. The president spoke as though geopolitics were a plumbing problem—turn off the valve in Washington, and the leaks in Buenos Aires stopped.

Yet while Milei celebrated these distant victories, his government faced mounting pressure at home. The economy was not cooperating with official forecasts. When Milei's team had drafted the 2026 budget, they projected inflation would reach 10.1 percent for the year. By May, that target was already obsolete. The most recent market survey estimated year-end inflation between 30.5 and 33 percent—potentially higher than 2025's already painful 31.5 percent. The gap between what the government had promised and what was actually happening had become impossible to ignore.

Inflation's stubbornness showed up in the details. The basic food basket rose 1.1 percent in a single month, the lowest monthly increase since August of the previous year, according to Economy Minister Luis Caputo. He highlighted this on social media as evidence of progress. But the year-over-year picture told a different story: the basket had climbed 32.4 percent. For those receiving basic income assistance, the government added a monthly bonus of 70,000 pesos with no deductions, bringing the total to roughly 461,000 pesos in net terms. It was the lowest guaranteed income for contributors to the general social security system, and it was not keeping pace with the cost of living.

Meanwhile, scrutiny of government spending had intensified. A federal judge in Jujuy was examining expenses claimed by the chief of staff, Manuel Adorni, as part of a broader investigation into alleged illicit enrichment. One item under review: Adorni had reserved four nights at Bolacuá Hotel Club de Campo, an all-inclusive resort fifteen minutes from the capital offering horseback riding, a pool, cinema, archery, and tennis. A local newspaper had reported the stay in early May, noting that the official had requested total discretion about his presence there. The reservation joined a growing list of questioned expenditures.

Elsewhere in the government, deregulation officials were attacking the national drug authority, Anmat, for blocking the sale of a special-edition beverage ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The product required label changes and new advertising, and Anmat had restricted its commercialization. From the Deregulation Ministry came a sharp critique: the state should not have agencies that obstruct the sale of products that harm no one. Requiring a merchant to seek permission to change a label or launch an advertisement was not health regulation—it was an unnecessary barrier that raised costs, delayed launches, and discouraged investment. The complaint drew support from prominent figures, including entrepreneur Marcos Galperin and libertarian legislator Ramiro Marra.

On the investment front, there were brighter signs. A major equipment distributor announced that Argentina had become its fastest-growing market globally. The company, which sells and distributes CAT machinery exclusively, was currently generating 400 million dollars annually in Argentina—roughly 20 percent of its South American business. The executive leading the region said Argentina generated more expectation than any other mining opportunity worldwide. The company planned to invest 600 million dollars over the next five to six years, aiming to double revenue every two to three years, reaching 1.6 billion dollars annually by the end of the period.

Yet even parliamentary procedures reflected the government's struggles with coordination. The Economy Ministry announced changes to a debt agreement with foreign funds just minutes before a scheduled Senate session, forcing lawmakers to send the measure back to committee for fresh discussion. An administration senator told reporters the timing was sloppy—the government kept sending things at the last moment. The pattern suggested internal friction or simple disorganization, neither reassuring to investors watching from abroad.