Milei suspends Fourth of July trip to the US

President Javier Milei has decided to suspend his trip to the United States to take part in the Independence Day celebrations on July 4, to which he had been invited by the Donald Trump administration. Government sources told the Herald‘s sister publication mbito that Milei will instead prioritize his domestic agenda, particularly Argentina’s Independence Day commemorations next week. One reason for the change of plans is that the libertarian leader had also intended to attend a gathering of business leaders and investors in Sun Valley, which was originally scheduled for this week but has since been postponed. Argentina marks its Independence Day on July 9, commemorating the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Spain in 1816. Milei now plans to attend on July 8 the annual Independence Day vigil in Tucumn, where the declaration was signed. He is also scheduled to attend a religious service at the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Cathedral on July 9.  Last year, he missed the Tucumn ceremony, citing bad weather that prevented him from flying there. mbito reported that Milei had received a formal invitation to the U.S. Independence Day celebrations, although his attendance was never officially confirmed. Embassy celebrations Despite cancelling his trip to the United States, Milei attended the U.S. Embassy’s Fourth of July celebrations in Buenos Aires on Tuesday the same day he had originally been expected at regional trade bloc Mercosurs leaders summit in Paraguay, which he did not attend. The U.S. embassy event, branded “Freedom 250” ahead of next year’s 250th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Declaration of Independence, was hosted by Ambassador Peter Lamelas and attended by Argentine government officials and members of the diplomatic corps. During the reception, Lamelas said President Donald Trump had tasked him with “supporting this new era of change and transformation and working alongside President Milei’s government” in Argentina. “Now is the time to build a stronger, deeper and bolder relationship,” he said. Earlier on Tuesday, Milei presided over the swearing-in of new Cabinet Chief Diego Santilli. Santilli was appointed following the resignation of Manuel Adorni, who stepped down as Cabinet chief amid a corruption and illicit enrichment scandal. Cover photo: Ambassador Peter Lamelas and President Javier Milei at the embassy’s celebrations