Organizing: TIA, Techub News
Editor’s note: The turmoil over Argentine President Javier Milei and the token LIBRA has not subsided in recent days. From his public advocacy for the project to the widespread attention generated by the tweets, a complex political and economic game is unfolding in Argentina. At the same time, the flow of funds involved in the incident, the scope of participants, and the subsequent public opinion repercussions gradually revealed the intricate inside story. In an interview, President Milley candidly responded to the controversy and expressed his insights into the current economic and political situation in Argentina. This interview not only covers the causes and consequences of the LIBRA token incident, but also reveals the strategic thinking and challenges of the Milley government in a complex political environment.
**Johnny：**Mr. President, thank you very much for accepting the interview at this tumultuous moment. First of all, I would like to ask you to explain the current situation.
President Milei: This interview was arranged two or three weeks ago, and promises must be kept. I have nothing to hide, so I can face it calmly. I understand that sometimes politicians may choose to evade, but I have nothing to hide, so I am happy to talk about it.
I believe that promises must be kept. Especially in times of dispute, avoidance is not the solution. I believe transparency is crucial. Do you know how it will end? The truth will always come to light, and all evidence will be revealed. You will see the despicable and pathetic aspects of traditional politics. They are nervous now because the polls show that we are far ahead, and the economy is clearly recovering. If the economic growth rate reaches at least 7% and the inflation rate drops to 1% when the economic data for the second quarter is released, and the poverty rate also drops to below 35%, then they will be even more anxious. Because they know that if this government does well, their status will no longer exist. So they will stop at nothing to undermine us.
Johnny: Can you explain what happened with the LIBRA token?
President Milei: Of course. When you see entrepreneurs related to digital technology, artificial intelligence, system development, etc., you will find that most of them are in an abnormal economic state. Due to poor management in Argentina over the past 100 years and the lack of a mature capital market, many of them only declare the minimum income, so they cannot obtain financing. In the United States, you can fund these projects through venture capital, and even if only one project succeeds, investors can get returns. But in Argentina, this situation does not exist. So when someone proposed to me to establish a structure to fund these entrepreneurs, I thought it was an interesting idea. We are very committed to promoting the development of technology and artificial intelligence, I think this is a good way to help those who cannot obtain financing.
Johnny: What’s the deal with the LIBRA promotional tweet you posted on Friday?
President Milei: After the public release of the Libra project, I promoted it because I believe it can help Argentines in need of financing. My tweets are to make more people aware of this project.
**Johnny：**Do you regret posting that tweet? Because you later deleted it.
President Milei: No regrets, let me explain.
When I posted a tweet, someone started spreading rumors that my account was hacked.
This is fake, I have nothing to hide.
I tweeted because I am passionate about technology and I think it’s a great opportunity to help entrepreneurs. But when I saw more and more negative comments, I decided to delete the tweet.
I usually don’t delete tweets, but this time I chose to withdraw.
**Johnny：**More than 40,000 people have invested in this project, involving an amount exceeding 80 million US dollars, and many people have suffered heavy losses. Do you have anything to say to them?
President Milei: First of all, I want to clarify that in fact, there were not 40,000 participants, many of whom were actually bots. The actual number of participants may be only around 5000, and most of them are highly specialized investors who are very clear about what they are doing. These people participate voluntarily and are very aware of the risks. It’s like going to a casino, you know you might lose money, but you still choose to participate. This is a transaction between individuals, and the country is not involved.
Johnny: Do you think you made a mistake in this matter?
President Milei: In the circumstances at the time, I don’t think I made a mistake. I acted in good faith, hoping to help entrepreneurs who were unable to obtain financing. But now it seems that I may need to learn some lessons from it.
Johnny: What did you learn from it?
President Milei: I realize that as a president, I need to be more cautious. I used to think I could remain open and transparent as before, but now I understand that I need to set up more screening mechanisms and not easily allow people to approach me.
Johnny: You mentioned setting up a filtering mechanism, could you please elaborate on that?
President Milei: For example, I need to ensure that those who propose suggestions to me are rigorously screened. People like Davis, I met through Noveli, which organized the technical conference where I met many interesting people. I thought it was a great opportunity at the time, but now it seems I need to be more cautious.
**Johnny：**Do you think this incident has affected your international reputation?
President Milei: I don’t think so. Because this is a tech-related event, and it has its dynamics. My reputation comes from fulfilling promises, such as stopping currency issuance, reducing inflation, and achieving fiscal surplus. These are the things that truly earn me credibility.
Johnny: What do you think about the calls for impeachment?
President Milei: This is the seventh time someone has called for my impeachment. Interestingly, those who call for my impeachment, like the Kishnel faction, also have many unexplained issues of their own. For example, they have never explained where the 600 billion dollars from the St. Cruz Fund went. Now they come to demand an explanation from me, I find it very ironic.
**Johnny：**You mentioned that there are many problems with the Kishner faction, can you be specific?
President Milei: For example, they once tried to take $10 billion from the central bank for election campaigns, which led to the dismissal of Martin Redrado. They also caused a $25 billion loss through the US dollar futures market. These were major mistakes during their tenure. In contrast, the adjustments we made are the largest in history, but we successfully reduced the inflation rate, and the economy has begun to recover.
Johnny: You mentioned that the Kishnell party has many problems, but you are also facing impeachment pressure yourself. What do you think is different about the calls for impeachment this time compared to before?
President Milei: The difference this time is that those who demand my impeachment also have many unresolved issues themselves. For example, they have never explained where the 600 billion dollars from the Santa Cruz Fund went. Now they come to demand that I explain, which I find ironic.
Johnny: Did you tell Davis what happened here when you called him last Friday?
President Milei: My reaction at the time was that, in the face of this situation, I needed to stay calm. If there were any doubts, I would choose to step back and protect myself.
Johnny: Is that tweet written by you?
President Milei: Yes, but at the time, there were rumors spreading that my account had been hacked. This was false, I was not hacked. So I pinned that tweet to prove that I posted it myself. But later, I decided to delete it as I saw more and more negative comments. I usually don’t delete tweets, but this time I chose to retract.
Johnny: Will you reduce the number of tweets, or will you continue to use Twitter (X) as before?
President Milei: I’m a fanatic and I’ll continue to use Twitter. I’m not sure what I’m going to do, but what I know is that I’m going to improve the screening mechanism and decide who has access to me.
Johnny: Have you talked to your sister Karina about this? What does she think?
President Milei: No, I won’t talk to my sister.
Johnny: Have you decided to no longer live like before, and no longer allow people to easily get in touch with you?
President Milei: Yes, we have decided not to live like we used to. We understand that our roles must have a filtering mechanism. We want to continue living like ordinary people, but reality does not allow it.
Johnny: This is about the atmosphere problem of social media. I’m not sure if people really care about all this mess.
President Milei: That’s why you have to look at people’s reactions. If you are in a complex situation, like not being able to go out, then we will indeed bring some trouble to the security personnel. A few days ago, Nick and I went to Federico’s department. When I left, I had to throw something in the trash can. I found a place where no one was around to throw it, but later many people still gathered around and took selfies with me. I have to accept that life is not as simple as it used to be.
Johnny: Sometimes you don’t realize you’re president.
President Milei: I don’t see myself as a president, I see this as a job. My description of my job is to reduce inflation, reduce insecurity, and promote economic growth. These are my goals.
Johnny: In the bill, participating in cryptocurrency-related fraud is a very serious crime, unprecedented scandal. Our House camp has decided to push forward with the political trial request to the president.
President Milei: Then let’s push forward. In fact, I have already instructed the anti-corruption office to investigate all of us, including myself. We have a team working on this issue.
Johnny: Be prepared, they will unite various forces against you.
President Milei: Do you know, Johnny, we are ending the various chaos in Argentine politics. Argentina has experienced a real Ponzi scheme, which has led this country from one of the richest countries in the world to a situation where nearly 60% of the population is in poverty. That’s the reality. The reason we are making expansive adjustments is because we are targeting the government system, which will alleviate the political burden.
Before I became a candidate, I said a question about information leakage. We’ve adjusted to that, but it’s not a recessionary adjustment because we’re giving the money back to the private sector. In fact, I’m not afraid of it, because I’m doing what the Argentine people are asking me to do, but the problem is on their side. Because we go into the electoral process this year, with the economy growing by 78% and inflation at 1% as far as the current data goes, they know they have no chance of winning, so the defenders of the status quo will fight back. Other than that, listen, first of all, they’re politicians, that’s the first point, if you like peaches, you have to accept the fluff on it, and since you’re in this field, you have to know these things. The second point is that Argentine politicians are unscrupulous people. The third point is that I have been fighting against them, from the beginning of exposing the truth, all the time cutting their interests, these people are gnashing their teeth at me, so they will take any opportunity to deal with me.
You are ending all political courses, ending the real Ponzi scheme in Argentina. This scheme has turned Argentina from a wealthy country into one with a poverty rate close to 60%. We are conducting expansionary adjustments because we are focusing the adjustments on the country, on political corruption.
Johnny: Is this a wrong move?
President Milei: Well, in the face of all the attacks, I must reexamine some things.
Johnny: Senator Lufden?
President Milei: He is the one at 1:25, which has nothing to do with raising taxes.
Johnny: This is fraud. I messed up, there is a fraud equivalent to 12 López packages here.
Milei President: But if there is fraud, let the judiciary prove it. The problem is, compared to López, he is very strong. Lutón must create some effective slogans, why doesn’t he calculate all the money he could have stolen from the Argentines? Every time he raises his hand to vote to increase his own salary, why doesn’t he calculate all the damage he has caused to the Argentines?
Johnny: You mentioned the guillotine, whose head will Karina’s guillotine chop off?
President Milei: If the judiciary proves that there is something that needs to be beheaded, then cut it, there is no doubt about it.
Johnny: Don’t you suspect that someone in the government has made a mistake?
President Milei: No, in principle, no suspicion. If the judiciary later tells me that someone has made a mistake, then I will accept it.
Johnny: Andrés Siro from Lice said they have too many lies, too many cryptocurrencies, too much freedom. What happens when you clash with an artist or certain artists?
President Milei: I have no hostility towards artists. In fact, I celebrate through art. I used to have a rock band, so I don’t oppose artists. What I mean is, if you are an artist, you should make a living by selling your products, not by relying on state subsidies. If you need state subsidies to live, then you are a civil servant. If you also become a tool for political propaganda, then you are doing politics, not art.
Johnny: Why is Lali doing politics?
President Milei: Wasn’t she sponsored by Quintela? Wasn’t she sponsored by the person on that yacht?
Johnny: Quintela? Is he the government of La Rioja?
President Milei: Yes, he did some performances for the people on that yacht.
Johnny: But does Lali Expósito need state funding?
President Milei: It’s mainly because of the performances she did, yes.
Johnny: María Becerra 呢？
President Milei: She also surprised me. She went to a place funded by the state, and then also criticized the state. Worst of all, she also lied, about the fire.
Johnny: About the fire incident.
President Milei: Yes, during the time of Kichnerism, the fires were handled badly. We reorganized all the work on fire disposal. Moreover, the national and provincial governments have acted together to provide financial support to those who have lost their homes. She is spreading lies and criticizing us with lies.
Johnny: But are you handling it well? I’m not sure who the Deputy Minister of Environment is. Adorni said a few days ago that he has not been appointed yet. He said he made mistakes in fire prevention.
President Milei: Well, that might be his point of view. He may have insufficient information or made a mistake.
Johnny: Will you eventually appoint that deputy minister?
President Milei: If the person in charge wants to continue, I have no problem. My direct contact is with the ministers. I will not appoint anyone, because if I appoint your secretary, what will you do?
Johnny: So let me build the team.
President Milei: Okay, but you have to understand that if I ask for results and you don’t deliver, I will fire you. You appoint the team you want, I won’t interfere.
Johnny: Aren’t you worried about the wave of violence in Buenos Aires Province?
President Milei: In a federal country, who is responsible for education, health, and safety?
Johnny: At the provincial government.
President Milei: Yes, so these security issues are Kichilov’s responsibility. As President of Argentina, I am concerned about the situation in the province of Buenos Aires. But the problem is, Kichilov is part of the problem, not the solution. He followed Zafaroni’s doctrine of treating criminals as good people and victims as bad people. We follow Julian’s doctrine that whoever commits a crime is punished.
Johnny: Is Macri part of the problem or part of the solution?
President Milei: In what way?
Johnny: In terms of the country’s political leadership.
President Milei: When he needed help, he helped. Now he will help too.
Johnny: What’s your relationship with him like?
President Milei: The last time I messaged him was on his birthday. We don’t have fundamental disagreements. If everyone thinks the same, then no one is really thinking.
Johnny: From 1 to 10, what is the likelihood of you reaching a strong agreement with the Progressive Party of Freedom?
President Milei: My goal is 10.
Johnny: You want a 10?
President Milei: Yes, my goal is 10 points.
Johnny: Patricia Bullrich, she is a candidate in the city.
President Milei: I think she’s doing a great job. If she becomes a candidate, she will sweep everything.
Johnny: But will you lose her as a minister?
President Milei: It depends on Patricia’s willingness. She has already said that she does not want to run, and I am very satisfied with her work as a minister.
Johnny: You can let her do two things at the same time.
President Milei: Yes, she can be where she wants.
Johnny: Would you submit a voluntary statement?
President Milei: Legal issues are not my expertise, and I should not disclose these in advance. Our Minister of Justice will handle these.
Johnny: Will you continue to push forward the “Clean Record” bill?
President Milei: Yes, we promised. We have submitted the bill, which has been passed by the House of Representatives, and now we need to see the Senate. We will strive to pass it.
Johnny: Mr. President, thank you for spending over an hour discussing all the topics, especially the issue of Libra.
President Milei: You’re welcome, I think the Argentine people should be completely reassured that I have always acted in good faith and will continue to do so. Because sooner or later the truth will come out.
Johnny: Thank you, President.
President Milei: Thank you, Johnny.
