The U.S. has been joined by Italy in officially recognizing Venezuelan opposition leader Edmundo González as the country’s president-elect. This move comes in response to the widely contested July presidential election in Venezuela, which saw current leader Nicolás Maduro claim victory. The disputed election sparked mass protests and a violent government crackdown. Maduro, however, continues to receive backing from Russia.
Meanwhile, Argentine President Javier Milei has garnered attention as a driving influence behind U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). This initiative, aimed at drastically reducing government size, is set to be led by Trump loyalists Vivek Ramaswamy and tech billionaire Elon Musk. Milei has proudly described himself as the inspiration for Trump’s government-slashing plans.
The Argentine leader has openly praised Musk, referring to him as “a hero in the history of humanity,” and has urged him to take bold actions through DOGE. Musk and his initiatives have also won admiration from Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who shared a public exchange of praise with the SpaceX and Tesla CEO during a high-profile awards ceremony in New York earlier this year.
Adding to his international profile, Milei made headlines by becoming the first foreign leader to visit Donald Trump following his election victory. During his visit to the president-elect’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida last week, Milei demonstrated his close alignment with Trump’s vision for governance.
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