Newsroom
Javier Milei, Argentina’s self-styled “rock star president,” took to a Buenos Aires arena Monday night hoping to turn boos into applause. Leather jacket? Check. Wild hair? Check. A crowd chanting his name like he was Mick Jagger reincarnated? Double check.
Argentinian President Javier Milei held a major concert in Buenos Aires, performing a nine-track set mostly consisting of 1980s rock anthems.
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) October 8, 2025
Around 15,000 people attended the show, according to The Guardian. pic.twitter.com/sTAsMY299b
Once the frontman of a Rolling Stones tribute band, Milei now fronts a struggling nation. He promised to slash government spending, crush inflation, and “exterminate” economic chaos. But the reality? Markets are jittery, the peso is wobbling, and his sister, also his chief of staff, is embroiled in a corruption scandal. A close ally even dropped out of elections after admitting to a shady $200,000 payment.
Undeterred, Milei rocked out nine mostly ’80s hits to a 15,000-strong crowd. “I’m human,” he told fans. “It might not seem like it, but I am.” Sure, the audience roared, but outside, many Argentines are feeling the pinch of austerity: pensions cut, hospitals struggling, and families paying more for utilities and food.
Diehard fans, though, are hanging on. “The country’s a shambles, but we have to wait, he’s not even halfway through his term,” said one shopkeeper dressed as a lion. Another called Milei’s presidency “historic” and unshakably supported him despite scandals.
Analysts, however, aren’t buying the hype. Political scientist Paola Zuban says Milei is in “economic, political, and social default,” and corruption scandals have shredded his moral credibility. Critics see Monday’s concert as a desperate PR stunt: part rock show, part political pep rally, trying to distract from mounting chaos.
For now, Milei’s playing to the fans, but Argentina’s economy is hitting a sour note.
*Source: The Guardian
