Argentine President Javier Milei issued a pointed invitation this weekend to New Yorkers troubled by incoming Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s radical socialist platform, urging them to consider relocating to Argentina. Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) held at Mar-a-Lago, Milei promoted his country as a refuge for those seeking liberty and prosperity over collectivism.
Milei’s message directly addressed New Yorkers facing a dramatic political shift after Mamdani’s election. The newly elected mayor ran on a platform pledging free public transportation, government-operated grocery stores, and the dismantling of traditional policing in favor of a “Department of Community Safety.” Milei warned these policies mirror the same socialist agenda that led Argentina to economic ruin over the past century.
“I would like to dedicate these words especially to New Yorkers,” Milei said during his speech. “You will now live under a communist government. Know that if things get complicated, you will always be well received on our land if you seek to prosper.”
The Argentine president emphasized his country’s immigrant-welcoming history, referencing the national constitution’s commitment to provide liberty for “all the men of the world who want to — legally — live on Argentine soil.” He contrasted this legacy of freedom with what he described as the moral decay and economic consequences that follow socialist governance.
Milei noted that while he has reformed Argentina’s immigration system to reduce welfare abuse and limit automatic access to public benefits, the country still offers a path to citizenship after two years of legal residency. These policies, he argued, balance fiscal responsibility with Argentina’s historical openness to immigration.
In his remarks, Milei also critiqued what he called the “moral harm” caused by socialism, warning that it legitimizes the redistribution of wealth and drives productive citizens and capital away from jurisdictions that no longer respect private enterprise. He highlighted Argentina’s own recent shift away from socialism with his victory and the expansion of his libertarian coalition in the midterm elections.
Milei called on Americans not to be discouraged by local political results and referenced the failures of “Kirchnerism,” Argentina’s dominant leftist movement, as a cautionary example of what awaits cities that embrace collectivist ideologies.
The Argentine president concluded his appearance with a nod to the populist right, dancing to the Trump-era anthem “YMCA” after delivering a passionate defense of capitalism as both a moral and practical force for lifting people out of poverty.
