Argentina's president accused of plagiarizing 'West Wing' UN speech

Argentine President Javier Milei is accused of plagiarism The West Wing during a recent speech at the United Nations, making him the latest in a surprisingly long list of real-life politicians who have stolen material from the fictional White House drama.

Left-hating, Trump-loving libertarian Milei's speech to the UN General Assembly took place on September 24, but only in recent days has the Argentine press realized that much of what the president said was taken verbatim from a speech from The West Wing's President Jed Bartlet in a fourth season episode in 2003.

Compare and contrast the two speeches as translated by the Guardian:

Milei: “We believe in defending everyone’s life. We believe in defending everyone's property. We believe in freedom of expression for everyone. We believe in freedom of worship for all. We believe in freedom of trade for all… And because in these times what happens in one country quickly affects others, we believe that all people should live free from tyranny and oppression, be it in the form of political oppression, economic slavery or religious slavery fanaticism. This basic idea must not only exist in words, it must be supported by actions: diplomatically, economically and materially.”

Martin Sheen's Bartlet: “We are for freedom of speech everywhere. We are for freedom to worship anywhere. We are for freedom of learning… for everyone. And because in our time you can build a bomb in your country and bring it to my country, what happens in your country is primarily my business. That is why we are for freedom from tyranny, everywhere, whether under the guise of political oppression… or economic slavery… or religious fanaticism… This most fundamental idea cannot be met with our support alone. This must be countered with our strength: diplomatic, economic, material.”

According to the Argentine newspaper La NationMilei's plagiarism was likely committed by the president's self-appointed chief strategist, Santiago Caputo West Wing Follower who has watched the series seven to nine times.

Milei is not the first high-profile politician to borrow heavily from him The West Wing in a speech: In 2017, then-British Prime Minister Theresa May was also accused of stealing part of another season four speech while speaking at the Conservative Party conference. An insider said at the time that there was “no question of plagiarism,” the Mirror reported, but added that May was not plagiarizing West Wing Fan.