Barack Obama has begun a two-day visit to Argentina during which he aims to highlight the Cold War’s legacy beyond Cuba, strengthen promises to declassify military and intelligence records from the Argentine Dirty War (1974-1983), and support newly elected president Mauricio Macri. It marks the first official state visit since Bill Clinton met with Carlos Menem in 1997.
While giving a speech at the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative Town Hall meeting in Buenos Aires, the president spoke of his desire to bring daughters Sasha and Malia with him on the journey so that they could “see the beauty and vibrancy” of the city. He also disclosed some very important fútbol-related information: both Sasha and Malia have a dream much like many of our own, and it involves Barcelona’s Argentine legend himself, Lionel Messi.
“They’ve already met one famous Argentinean – His Holiness Pope Francis. Now they want to meet Messi, but I could not arrange that,” Obama told the group of young entrepreneurs.
POTUS also gave a pretty sweet nod to 4x NBA champion Manu Ginobili; “I can confirm that he is not only a nice guy but also one of the best players in the world – and a proud Argentinean. So he is a great champion. My Chicago Bulls have been losing and the Spurs have been winning, so I’m not happy about that.”
At the official state dinner held at the Centro Cultural Kirchner later that evening, Obama danced the tango. WOW. What a day.
And there may have even been a futbolista in attendance – Boca Juniors’ manager / former Argentine international forward and Columbus Crew star Guillermo Barros Schelotto was reportedly present for the special event.