Overview
- Thirty-six House Democrats sent Bessent a letter seeking information on the Treasury’s proposed support to Argentina via the Exchange Stabilization Fund, asking that any disbursement be suspended and requesting answers by Oct. 29.
- Governors Gavin Newsom and Tim Walz publicly criticized the plan in posts highlighting domestic costs as they referenced billions proposed for Argentina.
- SNL’s Oct. 19 Weekend Update compared Javier Milei to Austin Powers, joked that Trump would send $40 billion, and quipped that Trump officials could “flee to Argentina,” a line that went viral.
- A CNN comedy segment on Oct. 20 hosted by Roy Wood Jr. mocked Milei as a “low-budget Wolverine,” questioned sending funds reported between $20 billion and $40 billion, and aired clips of his Movistar Arena performance.
- Coverage links the viral comedy to rising scrutiny of a Treasury-backed package announced during Milei’s Washington visit, with multiple outlets reporting it as conditioned on Argentina’s Oct. 26 elections.