President Donald Trump downplayed criticism that the bailout, that is, the injection of capital to rescue a government, of US$20 billion of his government to Argentina is benefiting the South American country more than the United States. Trump told reporters on Air Force One this Sunday (19) that the Argentina “is fighting for its life.
Nothing is benefiting Argentina, they are fighting for their lives. Do you understand what this means? They don’t have money. They have nothing. They’re fighting so hard to survive,” Trump said, adding that “I like the president of Argentina; I think he’s trying to do the best he can
When welcoming the right-wing president of , earlier this month, Trump suggested that his government’s economic aid to the country depended on Milei’s electoral success.
The bailout generated widespread criticism, including from some members of Trump’s own party, such as Iowa Republican Senator Chuck Grassley, who went to X to reflect: “Why would the US help rescue Argentina while taking the biggest market from American soybean producers???”
Why would USA help bail out Argentina while they take American soybean producers’ biggest market??? We shld use leverage at every turn to help hurting farm economy Family farmers shld be top of mind in negotiations by representatives of USA
— Chuck Grassley (@ChuckGrassley)
China, a major buyer of U.S. soybeans, halted purchases of the commodity in May in response to Trump’s trade war. Then, after Argentina temporarily dropped grain export taxes, China swooped in and bought tens of thousands of pounds of Argentine soybeans.
On Sunday, Trump suggested he is also considering a deal for , which is struggling economically.
“We bought some beef from Argentina. If we do that, it will bring down beef prices,” Trump said.
