The Washington Post interview with Milei: The relationship with Trump and the 'chainsaw'

The president Javier Milei offered an interview to The Washington Post, in which he addressed a variety of topics, such as his relationship with Donald Trump, his zero deficit policies, and reducing the size of the State.

In that conversation, the Argentine leader also spoke about his connection with businessman Elon Musk, who, according to Milei, took inspiration from his proposals to implement deregulations in the United States.

Regarding his link with Trump, Milei clarified that he doesn't maintain direct contact with the former president, opting to communicate through the official channels of the State Department.

Despite this distance, the Argentine president emphasized that there is a "constant feedback" between both governments, something that was supported by the Minister of Deregulation and State Transformation, Federico Sturzenegger, who also highlighted the importance of communication in the opposite direction, underscoring the influence exerted on Musk.

Regarding his government policies, Milei defended his "fiscal adjustment" approach and his strategy to reduce the size of the State, which is symbolically represented by the use of the "chainsaw," an emblem of what he considers the "new golden age of humanity."

In his office at the Casa Rosada, the chainsaw was present as a symbol of his administration. Regarding his actions and measures, The Washington Post indicated that Milei follows Trump's example, mentioning decisions like his promise to leave the World Health Organization (WHO) and his possible withdrawal from the Paris climate agreements.

The interview

The president of Argentina, nicknamed the libertarian Trump of South America, took the stage with his iconic accessory: a chainsaw. He smiled as he handed it to Elon Musk, who lifted it enthusiastically. "This is the chainsaw for bureaucracy!" Musk exclaimed to an excited crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month.

The symbol Milei chose for his crusade against public spending was now in the hands of the man tasked with reducing bureaucracy in the United States.

After the event, the two leaders met for over an hour and a half, discussing in detail the cuts driven by Milei, according to the Argentine president in an interview with The Washington Post last week.

In less than a year and a half in office, Milei reduced the number of ministries in the government from 18 to 8, fired more than 40,000 state employees, cut subsidies, and halted most new public infrastructure projects. Additionally, he significantly reduced inflation and achieved an annual fiscal surplus for the first time since 2010.

"I find it fascinating that the chainsaw has become an emblem of the new golden age of humanity," Milei commented during an extensive interview at the Casa Rosada, the Argentine presidential palace.

Milei is one of Trump's main allies in the Western Hemisphere. The U.S. president considered Milei his "favorite president" and even invited him to his inauguration ceremony.

The Argentine president enjoyed these praises and aligned closely with Trump's political vision: he promised to eradicate "woke" culture and withdrew certain privileges from Argentina's LGBT community.

Additionally, he expressed his intention to leave the World Health Organization and is considering withdrawing from the Paris climate agreements.