'Dude!' Trump secretary stuns by revealing taxpayer bailout to sway Argentina election

U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent admitted that Donald Trump's administration was trying to help Argentina President Javier Milei maintain power by extending billions of loans to boost that nation's economy.

The U.S. will extend a $20 billion swap line to Argentina and may purchase debt from its government to boost the political fortunes for the libertarian Milei, a close ally of Trump, Bessent and other American conservatives, the treasury secretary told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo.

“I don’t think the market has lost confidence in [Milei],” Bessent said. “I think the market is looking in the rearview mirror and looking at decades — about a century — of terrible Argentinian mismanagement.”

Milei is facing growing financial pressure since his party lost a key provincial election earlier this month in a landslide, just weeks ahead of Argentina's Oct. 26 midterm elections, and Bessent told Bartiromo the aid was intended as a political boost.

"The plan is as long as President Milei continues with his strong economic policies to help him, to bridge him to the election, we are not going to let a disequilibrium in the market cause a backup in his substantial economic reforms," Bessent said.

The admission stunned social media users, some of whom wondered why he'd say that out loud.

"'To bridge him to the election' – dude, you're not supposed to say that part out loud," posted author Rob Tracinski.

"Scott Bessent links bailout of Argentina to Trump's election interference, even as Argentina poaches U.S. soybean markets," wrote legal expert Marcy Wheeler, linking to her blog post on the topic.

"Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent explicitly states that U.S. intervention in the Argentinian economy is to help Javier Milei in his upcoming election," said political and media researcher Craig Harrington.

"BESSENT: INVESTMENTS HINGE ON A POSITIVE ELECTION OUTCOME," noted Bluesky user Nacmtrader17. "Vote for our preferred candidate and we will bail you out."

"Absolutely NOT!" added Bluesky user Tamela Ehlinger. "None of our tax $$$ go to Argentina for the mad man who tanked their economy & will do the same with a cash infusion Bessent & the orange-tainted howler monkey want to do this to make sure that Milei wins the next election to keep another bastard in power."