Argentina’s Milei to meet Musk, IMF, possibly Trump on US visit

FILE – Argentina’s President Javier Milei walks on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange before ringing the opening bell in New York, Sept. 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Buenos Aires, Argentina — Argentine President Javier Milei, under fire at home, will visit the United States this week for meetings with the IMF, Elon Musk and possibly US President Donald Trump, his office said Tuesday.

Embroiled in a domestic furor over his brief promotion of a cryptocurrency that promptly collapsed, costing investors billions, Milei will leave Buenos Aires on Wednesday night for a four-day visit.

His agenda includes a meeting Thursday with Tesla and X boss Musk from whom Milei, an avowed fan, will court investment as he seeks to turn around Argentina’s embattled economy.

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Later Thursday, Milei will meet with International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, presidential spokesperson Manuel Adorni said.

Argentina is paying off a $44 billion loan with the IMF and is negotiating a new aid program with the global lender.

On Saturday, Milei is due to address the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), which Trump is also set to attend, according to Adorni.

He would not confirm whether a face-to-face meeting was planned between the political and ideological allies.

This will be Milei’s second trip to the United States in a month, having recently visited for Trump’s January 20 inauguration.

He was the first foreign leader to visit Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Florida estate after the Republican’s November US election victory.