President Javier Milei, in response to the assassination attempt once morest Donald Trump, stated that the attack was the work of “the international left.” This claim was met with skepticism from Argentine analysts. Historian Leandro Morgenfeld pointed out that Milei “sees communists everywhere” and that his idea “is not shared by any leader in the world, beyond some expressions of the extreme right in other countries.” International relations specialist Juan Gabriel Tokatlián also weighed in, calling the president’s statement a “sovereign fantasy.”
After the attack on Trump, Milei tweeted that it was an act of the “international left” and suggested that the Democrats might be behind it. “The desperation of the international left is not surprising, as it sees its nefarious ideology expire today, and is willing to destabilize democracies and promote violence to cling to power. **In fear of losing at the polls, they resort to terrorism to impose their retrograde and authoritarian agenda**” he wrote on social media.
Foreign Minister Diana Mondino did not publicly endorse this interpretation, which may have led some to believe that Milei’s statements were a personal opinion. However, he was supported by other officials, such as the Minister of Justice, Mariano Cuneo Libarona. “The left is left without tools to stop it and resorts to violence,” he said on X. Bertie Benegas Lynch also expressed the same position: according to the deputy of La Libertad Avanza, the culprit of the attack on Trump was “the left” that “is desperate and resorts to violent procedures that are its hallmark.”
None of the information available so far supports Milei’s theory. The attacker, who was shot dead by state agents, was 20 years old and, according to the FBI, acted alone. He was a Republican voter, although he also allegedly made a financial contribution to the Democratic campaign. There is no evidence that he belongs to an international terrorist organization.
**“Milei, at record speed and once morest everything that was being said even in the United States, came out to endorse this construction of ‘it is the fault of the left’ – or ‘it is the fault of globalism’ -, assuming something that is nonsense, **”It is a mistake to say that Joe Biden’s government is a left-wing government. His idea is not shared by almost any leader in the world, beyond some expressions of the extreme right in other countries,” he told **Page 12** Morgenfeld.
The historian is a researcher at Conicet and coordinates the Clacso group Studies on the United States. “Accusing the left is an operation by Milei, who, in anything other than his ideas, which are marginal ideas from an economic point of view in terms of the paleolibertarian or ultra-right orientation of his government, is a combat. He has an absolutely anachronistic and over-ideologized vision of how the world and current geopolitics are constituted. He imagines that he is on a cold war crusade. He sees communists everywhere: he accuses presidents who have nothing to do with communism, like Lula, of being communists, he sees the left everywhere, to the point that he can imagine that a representative of the establishment of globalist financial capitalism like Biden is left-wing. And he includes everything in that: any government, movement or idea that proposes the welfare state, or that the state has to regulate or intervene in the economy for him is left-wing, is socialism, is communist. **This is very dangerous because Milei is using Argentina’s foreign policy and his position as president for his internal political and electoral accumulation,” he said.
For sociologist Juan Gabriel Tokatlián, “Javier Milei’s tweet is shameful first because it insinuates that it was the international left (the author of the attack), a sovereign fantasy, and second because it says that it is a left ‘that clings to power’ with what he is saying is that the Democrats were tacitly behind this.”
Tokatlián made these statements on radio. When he was told that the Spanish far-right leader Santiago Abascal, leader of Vox, and the former president of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro had spoken in similar terms to Milei, he said it was predictable. “Of course they are going to say that.”
Mongerfeld agreed that “the far right worldwide – and Milei is showing this – will try to use the attempted assassination of Trump to set itself up as a victim. Its discourse will be ‘we are the ones who defend the free world and freedom, and the left’, even though the attack had nothing to do with the left, ‘are putting the free world in danger'”
“Milei is interested in foreign policy only in the sense of being able to shine at the individual and party level,” the historian added. “He constructs a narrative, as in many aspects of his government and his discourse, with absolutely fallacious data or blatant lies. This is one of them, attributing the attack to the left when there is no indication or proof of that.”
“Milei writes his tweet without having any information, to add to this confusion. Because he knows that many of his followers are not going to verify who shot and with what objectives, but will be left with what they imagine, and this in terms of communications was successful in his government, it will bear fruit in the media and electorally. He builds a narrative that there is a left that threatens the forces of freedom, democracy, the free world, when we know that it is the opposite, that there is a growing authoritarianism on the part of these far-right forces that advance on collective rights, on democracies. Also on journalists who have a critical view on fake news and on these constructions that are based on lies.”
Javier Milei’s Claim of “International Left” Behind Trump Assassination Attempt Sparks Outrage
Argentine Analysts and International Relations Specialists Condemn Milei’s Baseless Accusations
After the assassination attempt once morest former U.S. President Donald Trump, Argentine President Javier Milei sparked controversy by claiming that the attack was orchestrated by “the international left.” This assertion has been met with widespread criticism from Argentine analysts, who dismiss it as a “sovereign fantasy” and a dangerous distortion of reality.
Milei’s Baseless Claim of “International Left” Conspiracy
In response to the attack, Milei took to Twitter to accuse the “international left” of orchestrating the assassination attempt, suggesting that the Democrats might have been involved. He claimed that the attack was a desperate act by the left to cling to power in the face of their ideological demise.
“The desperation of the international left is not surprising, as it sees its nefarious ideology expire today, and is willing to destabilize democracies and promote violence to cling to power,” Milei wrote on social media. “In fear of losing at the polls, they resort to terrorism to impose their retrograde and authoritarian agenda.”
Argentine Experts Condemn Milei’s “Sovereign Fantasy”
This statement, however, has been met with strong criticism from prominent Argentine figures. Historian Leandro Morgenfeld, a researcher at Conicet and coordinator of the Clacso group “Studies on the United States,” described Milei’s claim as an “anachronistic and over-ideologized vision” of the world.
“Milei sees communists everywhere,” Morgenfeld explained. “He accuses presidents like Lula, who have nothing to do with communism, of being communists. He sees the left everywhere, to the point that he can imagine that a representative of the establishment of globalist financial capitalism like Biden is left-wing.”
Morgenfeld further criticized Milei for using his position as president to promote his “paleolibertarian or ultra-right” agenda. “He is using Argentina’s foreign policy and his position as president for his internal political and electoral accumulation,” Morgenfeld added.
A Shameful Insinuation
Juan Gabriel Tokatlián, a sociologist, described Milei’s statement as “shameful” and a “sovereign fantasy.” He pointed out that Milei’s claim insinuates that the international left was behind the attack, implicitly suggesting that the Democrats were involved.
“Javier Milei’s tweet is shameful first because it insinuates that it was the international left (the author of the attack), a sovereign fantasy, and second because it says that it is a left ‘that clings to power’ with what he is saying is that the Democrats were tacitly behind this,” Tokatlián said in radio statements.
A Global Far-Right Strategy
Tokatlián noted that the Spanish far-right leader Santiago Abascal, leader of Vox, and the former president of Brazil Jair Bolsonaro had made similar statements to Milei. “Of course they are going to say that,” he said, highlighting a pattern of far-right leaders seeking to exploit the attack for their own political gains.
Morgenfeld agreed, saying that “the far right worldwide – and Milei is showing this – will try to use the attempted assassination of Trump to set itself up as a victim. Its discourse will be ‘we are the ones who defend the free world and freedom and the left,’ even though the attack had nothing to do with the left, ‘are putting the free world in danger.'”
Milei’s Political Strategy: Fabricating Narratives
Both analysts emphasized that Milei’s accusations are driven by a political agenda. They argued that his focus on foreign policy is purely regarding personal and party-level gain, not regarding achieving any concrete policy objectives.
“Milei is interested in foreign policy only in the sense of being able to shine at the individual and party level,” Morgenfeld said. “He constructs a narrative, as in many aspects of his government and his discourse, with absolutely fallacious data or blatant lies. This is one of them, attributing the attack to the left when there is no indication or proof of that.”
“Milei writes his tweet without having any information, to add to this confusion,” Morgenfeld added. “Because he knows that many of his followers are not going to verify who shot and with what objectives, but will be left with what they imagine, and this in terms of communications was successful in his government, it will bear fruit in the media and electorally. He builds a narrative that there is a left that threatens the forces of freedom, democracy, the free world, when we know that it is the opposite, that there is a growing authoritarianism on the part of these far-right forces that advance on collective rights, on democracies. Also on journalists who have a critical view on fake news and on these constructions that are based on lies.”
The Reality of the Attack
It’s crucial to note that the attacker, who was shot dead by state agents, was a 20-year-old individual and, according to the FBI, acted alone. While he was a Republican voter, he also allegedly made a financial contribution to the Democratic campaign. There is no evidence that he belonged to an international terrorist organization.
Distorting Reality with Dangerous Narratives
Milei’s attempts to link the attack to the “international left” and the Democrats are a blatant distortion of reality. His accusations, unsupported by any evidence, not only undermine the credibility of his government but also create a dangerous atmosphere of fear and suspicion. In doing so, he is essentially engaging in a strategy of “whatregardingism,” attempting to divert attention from legitimate concerns regarding the rise of authoritarianism and violence on the right.
A Call for Critical Thinking and Accountability
In conclusion, Milei’s accusations once morest the “international left” are a dangerous manipulation of facts and a clear attempt to exploit a sensitive situation for political gain. In the face of such misinformation, it is crucial to rely on credible sources, engage in critical thinking, and hold those in power accountable for their statements, particularly when they are based on unfounded claims and contribute to a climate of fear and division.