The relationship between Javier Milei and Donald Trump is going through its first serious short circuit following a decision that in Washington was interpreted as a gesture of disdain. As reconstructed by Página/12, the suspension of the trip of the US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, was a response to the Argentine president missing the 2026 World Cup draw, an event that Trump would attend and which was intended as an important political photo for both governments. In the White House they considered that Milei’s absence sent a negative signal and fueled the perception of unpredictability that already existed about his driving style.
Bessent had planned an agenda of economic and political meetings in Buenos Aires, but decided to cancel the visit immediately after Milei informed that he would not travel to Washington. The article details that the annoyance within the Trump government was clear and that the Argentine decision was read as a lack of reciprocity in a relationship that sought to consolidate.
Added to this was a piece of information that circulated among officials: Milei had decided not to travel to avoid meeting Claudio “Chiqui” Tapia, which reinforced the idea that he prioritized a domestic conflict over international diplomacy. In Washington, that reason was interpreted as a whim that was difficult to justify.
The suspension of Bessent’s visit exposed a cooling that surprised the Argentine ruling party itself. The expectation of an automatic alliance with Trump weakened and, as the presidential environment admits, there are now fears that the United States will evaluate any future gesture with greater caution. The episode functions as a warning: the relationship is no longer taken for granted and will depend on Milei being able to demonstrate predictability and a real willingness to sustain the ties that he himself had enthusiastically promoted.
