Leaders of Latin America Invest Heavily in Shaping Trump’s Presidential Agenda

Millions Spent Lobbying Trump’s White House: A New Era for Latin America

The White House has become a hub for foreign influence, with leaders from Latin American countries spending millions of dollars to push their agendas. According to US government records, at least 10 countries in the region have registered their top officials and envoys as foreign principals under the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA), aiming to promote transparency.

A More Transactional Approach

Under the Trump administration, a more directly transactional approach to influencing government has emerged. Personal relationships with far-right leaders in Latin America have given direct access to the White House, according to Jake Johnston, director of international policy at the Washington-based Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR). While influence peddling is not unprecedented, the magnitude of this approach is noteworthy.

Key Players

El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has arguably seen the greatest return on his three-year, $1.5m lobbying spree. This includes scoring an Oval Office meeting with Trump, a nuclear energy deal, US assurance to help expand his country’s notorious mega-prison, and an upgraded travel safety rating from the state department.

A Lucrative Contract

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa secured a lucrative contract with Mercury public affairs, which helped him win approval for increased arms shipments to tackle a devolving security situation. This deal also provided a positive US intelligence assessment about his candidacy just days before winning a presidential runoff marred by irregularities.

Argentina’s Javier Milei

Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, has taken a different approach to becoming Trump’s ‘favorite president.’ He has spent tens of thousands to dine with Trump at Mar-a-Lago and appeared alongside Elon Musk at February’s conservative CPAC conference in Washington. This has eased the path toward a $20bn, US-backed IMF deal and a visit to Buenos Aires from the treasury secretary.

A Regional Push

Leaders across the hemisphere are playing Trump’s uniquely transactional game to provide cover for controversial policies, position themselves electorally, and curry favor with top lawmakers and officials. Key among these efforts is the Argentinian American Damian Merlo of the Miami-based Latin America advisory group, who has renewed his $75,000-a-month contract with Bukele.

The Role of Lobbyists

Veteran Republican insider Damian Merlo previously worked for five years as vice-president of the lobbying firm run by Otto Reich, a longtime Republican official focused on Latin America. Reich introduced another Cuban-American lobbyist, Mauricio Claver-Carone, to Trump’s then-national security adviser, John Bolton.

Claver-Carone is now Trump’s special envoy to Latin America, working side by side with his longtime ally, secretary of state Marco Rubio. Another Trump-connected Latin America lobbyist, retired Cuban-American ambassador Carlos Trujillo, has recently taken on the Caribbean nations of Haiti, Guyana, and the Dominican Republic as clients at Continental Strategy LLC.

A New Era for Latin America

Latin America is increasing its lobbying to ensure its seat at the table under the current administration. With Florida’s general involvement in this administration, specifically in foreign policy, and the state’s centrality to Latin American politics, the region is becoming more prominent in Washington’s vast foreign influence web.

‘This combines to create greater relevance and attention to the region than we’ve seen before,’ said Johnston. ‘Now that some of these folks are in government or have direct access to government, Latin American leaders will certainly find more fertile breeding ground to pursue their interests.’