Key facts
- Argentine President Javier Milei claims the US Democratic party, Brazil, and Mexico financed an "anti-Argentina campaign" during the World Cup.
- Milei stated that "progressive minds" were behind the alleged campaign, aiming to hinder "ideas of freedom".
- He specifically accused the Brazilian government of providing the largest share of funding.
- The narrative has gained traction, with some social media analysis finding patterns of orchestration.
- Critics suggest Milei is using the campaign narrative as a distraction from domestic issues and his austerity plan.
- The claims have drawn parallels to propaganda used by Argentina's past military dictatorship.
Argentine President Javier Milei has accused the US Democratic party, along with the governments of Brazil and Mexico, of financing an "anti-Argentina campaign" during the recent World Cup. Milei, a self-styled libertarian, claimed that "progressive minds" who oppose "ideas of freedom" were behind the criticism of the Argentine team and accusations of racism among its fans.
In an interview on Sunday, Milei specifically alleged that the "government of Brazil," led by leftwing President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, provided the largest share of the funding for this supposed campaign. Analysts in Argentina have suggested that Milei is using this narrative as a distraction from his own plummeting popularity and his "chainsaw" austerity plan.
Despite the debate among analysts, the narrative has resonated with some Argentinians. Pablo Torres, a bookseller from Buenos Aires, described a "bombardment" of negative posts on social media against Argentina, expressing "outrage and disgust." He criticized "great colonial powers" for leveling accusations of racism.
During the tournament, incidents of racist behavior by some Argentine supporters drew significant attention, including a post from US actor Samuel L Jackson. Milei attributed this criticism to Argentina's opposition, which he claimed had "validated the woke movement."
Milei's accusations were amplified during a political rally in Brazil on Saturday, where he attended the launch of Senator Flávio Bolsonaro's presidential campaign. Milei not only criticized President Lula da Silva but also stated that "the place from which the most attacks came was Brazil." He later expanded this accusation to include the US Democratic party and Mexico.
Digital anthropologist Mercedes Máspero analyzed over 2 million social media posts and found "undeniable patterns" of orchestration, though she noted it was difficult to definitively label it a "coordinated campaign" due to its widespread nature. However, Natalia Aruguete, a researcher specializing in social media, found "no evidence of a large-scale coordinated operation," despite acknowledging a "hostile, widespread and transnational conversation centered on Argentina." Aruguete noted that while Brazil had a significant presence in discussions about racism, Milei's specific accusation of Brazilian involvement lacked public evidence.
Some critics pointed out that Milei's claims echo propaganda from Argentina's 1976-1983 dictatorship, which also alleged an "anti-Argentina campaign" during the 1978 World Cup to deflect criticism of human rights abuses. Aruguete suggested Milei is transforming a "diverse online conversation" into a political conflict to fit his "culture war" narrative against the left, especially as his administration faces rising unemployment and corruption scandals, driving his popularity to a low point.