Trump's fingerprints seen on Latin America's rightward shift as Brazil becomes next test
Trump’s Reach Extends to Latin America: From Argentina’s Milei to Brazil’s Upcoming Election
By Maine News Now
WASHINGTON, D.C.—President Donald Trump’s legacy in the United States has extended far beyond the borders of the country, according to observers who point to a noticeable shift toward right‑leaning governments in much of Latin America. The trend is now being tested in Brazil’s presidential race, the most consequential election in the region in recent years.
A longtime resident of the United States, Argentine businessman Marcelo Sandrin—who moved to the country nearly three decades ago—told Fox News Digital that “Trump deserves a lot of credit” for the conservative wave sweeping the hemisphere. He singled out Argentine President Javier Milei, a libertarian who champions small‑government economics, as a key ally of Trump’s ideology in the region. “During the Trump era, South America has moved more and more to the right,” Sandrin said. “Milei is a very forceful libertarian, right‑wing/small‑government figure.”
Milei’s economic agenda has challenged the long‑standing left‑wing establishment in Argentina, and his popularity has resonated with other Latin American leaders. In Brazil, former President Jair Bolsonaro’s supporters are campaigning to return the country to right‑wing rule, a move that would extend the trend observed in Argentina. “Brazil is almost going to be moving to the right again,” Sandrin added. He contrasted Brazil’s trajectory with the left‑leaning governments that still hold sway in Mexico and Uruguay.
The United States’ influence in the region has also manifested in actions beyond elections. In March, U.S. forces captured Venezuelan socialist leader Nicolás Maduro, an operation that many analysts say demonstrated Washington’s capacity to shape political outcomes in Latin America. Santiago Vidal Calvo, a researcher with the Manhattan Institute, told Fox News Digital that the capture reinforced U.S. influence and weakened Maduro’s political order. “I have no doubt that President Trump has had a good influential policy towards making governments more right‑leaning in Latin America,” Calvo said. “I think that got exacerbated with the capture of Maduro,” he added.
Calvo also highlighted the role of China in the region, noting that Beijing’s loan agreements differ from conventional North American financial practices, giving it leverage in domestic affairs. He argued that Trump, Milei, and Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele have “helped inspire right‑leaning movements across the region,” with implications that reach beyond elections to issues such as immigration, trade, Chinese influence and national security.
While the rightward trend is evident, it is not uniform across the hemisphere. Mexico remains governed by the left‑wing Morena movement, and Uruguay continues to pursue a left‑leaning policy agenda. These outliers illustrate the complexity of Latin America’s political landscape.
In praise of the Trump administration’s Latin American strategy, Calvo singled out Secretary of State Marco Rubio, saying, “I think one of the highlights of this Trump administration has been a good example of foreign policy in Latin America, especially at the hand of Marco Rubio.”
As Brazil heads into its presidential election, analysts say the outcome will be a litmus test for the extent to which Trump’s influence—and the broader conservative shift—has reshaped the political fabric of Latin America. The region’s leaders and voters will decide whether the trend toward right‑leaning governance continues or whether the left‑wing exceptions in Mexico and Uruguay will grow.