Milei intensifies media attacks as election approaches
Argentina’s President Milei Accuses Journalists of “Scum”
Since taking office in December 2023, President Javier Milei has intensified his defamation campaigns against the press. The libertarian leader labels reporters as “human excrement,” “trash,” “baboons” and “prostitutes to politicians,” aiming to strengthen his image as an anti‑woke patriot ahead of October parliamentary elections.
Media Freedom Declines Under Milei’s Rhetoric
- Reports by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) show Argentina slide 47 spots on the World Press Freedom Index, landing at 87 out of 180 nations.
- The daily La Nación tallied 410 incidents of Milei attacking the media, naming 60 journalists.
- Defamation suits: Milei has filed eight lawsuits against reporters this year, two dismissed. One journalist is under police protection after online threats and has counter‑sued the president for intimidation.
Strategic Targeting of the Press
Political analysts suggest Milei’s hostility toward the media is a core element of his “cultural battle” against what he deems woke ideology. The president’s messaging echoes a classic populist tactic: creating a “media enemy” that supporters blame for a conspiracy preventing the success of libertarian governance.
Political Impact and Public Sentiment
While Milei claims he has lowered inflation, critics point to massive job cuts and sharply reduced social spending. Concerns rise over Argentina’s ability to build foreign reserves and attract investment.
Internal Justifications and Public Rhetoric
- During a streaming talk on Neura, Milei complained that the press called him incestuous, a zoophile, homophobic, a Nazi and “incestuous.” He said: “When they face backlash, they start whining.”
- Political consultant Shila Vilker argues that Milei’s targeting of the media maintains his image as a disruptor and shows he remains an “outsider” fighting the political‑media caste. Vilker notes that the center is neutralized, polarization increases, and the message becomes clear: there is no room for the lukewarm in a country with deep political divisions.
- Vilker added that the president’s “digital army” multiplies harassment, intimidating potential critics into silence.
As Milei pushes his campaign toward the October elections, the media’s freedom and safety face an unprecedented threat.
