Trump Grilled On Argentina Bailout: How Is This ‘America First?’

President Donald Trump on Tuesday was asked how his massive financial bailout to Argentina fits in line with his “America First” agenda.

The president hosted Argentinian President Javier Milei to finalize the bailout. Last week, the Trump administration announced it was working on a package that would send $20 billion to the South American country. As noted in a report from Politico, Argentina’s economy has collapsed following Milei’s extensive spending cuts and amid concerns that Milei’s administration could lose power in the upcoming midterm elections. Such an outcome could prevent Milei from sticking to his libertarian economic agenda.

During Milei’s visit to the White House, Trump was asked straight-up how the bailout was “America first.” The reporter also asked if the bailout was meant to improve Milei’s prospects in the midterms. To that, Trump responded:

No, it’s really meant to help a good financial philosophy, where Argentina can, after 20 years of disaster — because it was very successful at one point, and it can be again, like Venezuela. Venezuela was very, very successful, and now it’s a dictatorship.

So, when we can help our neighbors — you know, we’re making tremendous progress in South America. [Secretary of State Marco Rubio] was telling me — he’s like our great expert here. He really knows it. You were telling me that so many of the countries are coming our way, and we had a few years ago when I just came back. So I’ve been here now almost nine months; but when I just came in, I was amazed to see how poorly we’ve done. We lost so many, and one of them was Argentina — would be lost if he wasn’t there — and I think he will be there because the people recognize he’s done an amazing job. He took over a real mess. So did I take over a mess. I took over a mess by, you know, the Biden group; and Obama was — he started it. I’ll tell you, Barack Hussein Obama started it.

Watch above via Fox News.