Milei Locks Down Casa Rosada as He Hosts Palantir’s Peter Thiel Amid Media Blackout

Original article: Prensa afuera, magnate adentro: Milei blindó Casa Rosada para recibir al dueño de Palantir

Once again, Argentine President Javier Milei attacked the media and blocked access to accredited journalists at Casa Rosada this Thursday, while hosting Peter Thiel, the billionaire and owner of Palantir, a firm specializing in artificial intelligence and data analysis with deep ties to the Pentagon and Silicon Valley elite.

From early morning, security measures were implemented. Federal Police and Military House personnel were stationed around Balcarce 24, the usual entrance for accredited journalists accessing the Executive’s headquarters. However, what started as a regular coverage day turned into a scene reinforcing the far-right president’s hostile stance toward the press, as arriving journalists were stopped, asked for identification, and after being checked against a printed list held by the officers, received the same refusal: they could not enter or retrieve personal items from the press room.

According to reports from Página/12, no formal explanations were provided, other than that “the decision was made to remove the fingerprints from accredited journalists as a preventive measure,” referring to an alleged case of “illegal espionage.”

The ban on more than 60 journalists who perform daily duties in the press room comes at a time when Argentine media have uncovered corruption cases involving libertarian officials and ministers, coinciding with the insults frequently posted on social media by Milei, who has claimed that “95 percent of journalists are criminals and on the take.”

Press Outside, Tycoon Inside

Behind the police barricades, strict security measures, and closed doors for the press, the libertarian was preparing to welcome Peter Thiel, the billionaire and founder of Palantir, who arrived at Casa Rosada around 2:00 PM (local time).

Thiel, one of the most influential figures in global tech conservatism and a close ally of U.S. Vice President JD Vance, came to Buenos Aires with an agenda that transcends conventional investments.

According to Página/12, the billionaire has a particular interest in the natural and energy resources of Patagonia, viewing them as a potential “refuge” amid an emerging global crisis of unknown nature.

This digital outlet reports that in light of a visit that could lead to structural agreements potentially affecting sovereignty over strategic resources, Milei’s administration opted to secure the Executive headquarters and keep the accredited press out of the coverage.

The Espionage Excuse

The official justification for this information lockdown references a report aired by TN last Sunday. In this segment, journalist Ignacio Salerno used HD camera-equipped Ray-Ban Meta glasses— the same model used by Senator Patricia Bullrich in Congress without objections— to film a tour through the hallways of the Government House.

Once the material was published, the libertarian administration revoked Salerno’s accreditation, and the Military House filed a criminal complaint against both the journalist and the program’s host, Luciana Geuna, based on charges of “disclosure of political and military secrets,” arguing that the recorded material may have “jeopardized the security of the facilities and exposed information deemed strategic to the functioning of the Executive Power.”

Why is Milei Blocking Journalists from Access to Casa Rosada?

Following this controversy, the libertarian government chose to implement a unprecedented measure in Argentina’s democratic history: blocking press access to the Executive headquarters.

The decision, as officials confided to journalists, was made directly by Milei and off the record, they admitted that “they don’t see an exit strategy for the coming days” and that “they cannot speak of timelines or promise anything.”

Afterward, the president celebrated the censorship on his social media: he shared an image on Instagram stating “Excellent measure: all journalist accreditations to Casa Rosada have been revoked,” along with photos of the press workers and captions such as “Filthy trash” and “Repugnant trash.”

According to Página/12, the government utilized these “false arguments” with four objectives: to shield Thiel’s visit and possible agreements on natural resources, to shift the agenda away from corruption cases involving high-ranking libertarian officials, to avoid discussing internal party conflicts and the economic crisis, and to continue its systematic tirade against the press.