Conan (Javier Milei's dog)

{{this|Javier Milei's dog|the special operations military working dog|Conan (military dog)}}

{{short description|English mastiff adopted by Javier Milei (2004–2017)}}

{{Infobox animal

| name = Conan

| image =

| caption =

| species = Dog

| breed = English Mastiff

| gender = Male

| birth_date = 2004

| birth_place = Buenos Aires Province, Argentina

| death_date = {{Death year and age|2017|2004|05}}

| death_place = Argentina

| resting_place =

| occupation =

| years_active =

| awards =

| owner = Javier Milei

| weight =

| height =

| namedafter = Conan the Barbarian

| website =

}}

Conan (2004 – May 2017) was an English Mastiff adopted by Argentina's president Javier Milei as a puppy in 2004, and named after the title character in the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian.{{Cite magazine |last=Guzman |first=Chad de |date=2023-11-20 |title=Argentina's President-Elect Seeks Counsel From His Cloned Dogs |url=https://time.com/6337474/javier-milei-argentina-president-cloned-dogs-advice/ |access-date=2025-01-19 |magazine=TIME |language=en}} Milei, who never married and is childless, referred to Conan as his closest friend and confidant. Conan died from spinal cancer in 2017.

In 2018, Milei cloned Conan into several other dogs. Milei reportedly speaks to his dogs and seeks political and economic advice from them. Milei's interactions with his dogs have attracted controversy and international attention since Milei's 2023 Argentine presidential election campaign.

Life

Conan was born around 2004, and Milei took him as a puppy that year and treated him as a family member. In 2018, Milei told Perfil that Conan is his "true and greatest love" (verdadero y más grande amor) and "literally a son to me".{{Cite book |last=González |first=Juan Luis |title=El loco: La vida desconocida de Javier Milei y su irrupción en la política argentina |publisher=Planeta Argentina |isbn=9504982891 |edition=1st |publication-date=July 2023 |pages=1–4 |language=es}}{{cite news|last=Nicas|first=Jack|date=19 October 2023|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/19/world/americas/argentina-election-javier-milei.html|url-status=live|title=The 5 Clones in Argentina's Election|work=The New York Times|issn=1553-8095|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124161038/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/19/world/americas/argentina-election-javier-milei.html|archive-date=24 November 2023|access-date=1 December 2023}} He also reportedly gave Conan champagne.{{cite news|last=Brigida|first=Anna-Catherine|date=22 October 2023|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mileis-cloned-dogs-steal-limelight-argentina-election-2023-10-22/|url-status=live|title=Milei's cloned dogs steal limelight in Argentina election|work=Reuters|issn=2293-6343|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231124161038/https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mileis-cloned-dogs-steal-limelight-argentina-election-2023-10-22/|archive-date=24 November 2023|access-date=1 December 2023}}

In May 2017, Conan died as a result of spinal cancer.{{cite web|url=https://www.iprofesional.com/economia/384634-su-perro-muerto-y-la-mision-de-dios-los-secretos-de-milei|url-status=live|title=Su perro muerto, esoterismo y la 'misión' de Dios: los secretos de Javier Milei|website=iProfesional|language=es|date=6 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822143731/https://www.iprofesional.com/economia/384634-su-perro-muerto-y-la-mision-de-dios-los-secretos-de-milei|archive-date=22 August 2023|access-date=1 December 2023}}{{cite magazine|last=González|first=Juan Luis|date=9 August 2023|url=https://noticias.perfil.com/noticias/politica/milei-y-su-perro-muerto-quien-es-la-fuente-secreta-de-el-loco-el-libro-sobre-el.phtml|url-status=live|title=Milei y su perro muerto: quién es la fuente secreta de 'El Loco', el libro sobre él|magazine=Revista Noticias|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230824170609/https://noticias.perfil.com/noticias/politica/milei-y-su-perro-muerto-quien-es-la-fuente-secreta-de-el-loco-el-libro-sobre-el.phtml|archive-date=24 August 2023|access-date=1 December 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://eldoce.tv/curioso/conan-perro-cordobes-javier-milei-murio-fue-clonado-miles-dolares_153231|url-status=live|title=Conan, el perro cordobés de Milei que murió y fue clonado por miles de dólares|website=El Doce|language=es|date=15 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230822145324/https://eldoce.tv/curioso/conan-perro-cordobes-javier-milei-murio-fue-clonado-miles-dolares_153231|archive-date=22 August 2023|access-date=1 December 2023}} Milei then began consulting with a medium. Milei came to believe he met Conan in a previous life as a gladiator and lion who refused to fight because they knew they were destined to work together in a grand project, which he believes was a prophecy of his bid for the Argentine presidency.

Of Conan's death, Milei said that he had not really died (he called it "his physical disappearance" and continued to refer to Conan in the present tense) but gone to sit next to God to protect him, and that it was thanks to this that he had begun to have talks with God himself.{{cite news|last=Salomé|first=René|date=2 July 2023|url=https://www.infobae.com/leamos/2023/07/02/los-secretos-mejor-guardados-de-milei-telepatas-para-hablar-con-su-perro-muerto-y-la-mision-que-le-encomendo-dios/|url-status=live|title=Los secretos mejor guardados de Milei: telépatas para hablar con su perro muerto y la misión que le encomendó Dios|work=Infobae|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120205434/https://www.infobae.com/leamos/2023/07/02/los-secretos-mejor-guardados-de-milei-telepatas-para-hablar-con-su-perro-muerto-y-la-mision-que-le-encomendo-dios/|archive-date=20 November 2023|access-date=1 December 2023}}

Cloning

{{Multiple image

| image1 = Portrait of Milton Friedman.jpg

| image2 = Rothbard '70s.jpg

| image3 = La Revolución Industrial Pasado y Futuro, Robert E. Lucas Jr. screenshot (cropped).jpg

| align = left

| footer = From left to right are American economists Milton Friedman (1912–2006), Murray Rothbard (1926–1995), and Robert Lucas Jr. (1937–2023). Four out of six of Conan's clones were named after them.

| total_width = 400

}}

In 2018, Milei paid US-based company PerPETuate, Inc $50,000 to clone Conan. The procedure resulted in six puppies. Milei said that he cloned Conan because he understands cloning as "a way of approaching eternity".

Milei named one of the litter Conan, which he does not distinguish from the original Conan. Four more puppies he named after Chicago School economists: Milton (named for Milton Friedman), Murray (named for Murray Rothbard), Robert and Lucas (both named for Robert Lucas Jr).{{cite news|url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/celebrity/milei-present%C3%B3-a-su-hijo-conan-y-a-sus-nietos-de-cuatro-patas-en-infama-recargado/ar-BBM9ekN?li=AAggpOc&%25252525252525253Bocid=mailsignout|url-status=dead|title=Milei presentó a su 'hijo' Conan y a sus 'nietos' de cuatro patas en Infama Recargado|work=América TV|language=es|date=20 August 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328064128/https://www.msn.com/en-us/entertainment/celebrity/milei-present%C3%B3-a-su-hijo-conan-y-a-sus-nietos-de-cuatro-patas-en-infama-recargado/ar-BBM9ekN?li=AAggpOc&%25252525252525253Bocid=mailsignout|archive-date=28 March 2019|access-date=1 December 2023|via=MSN}}{{cite web|last=Portes|first=Ignacio|date=9 July 2023|url=https://brazilian.report/latin-america/2023/07/09/argentina-media-attack-milei|url-status=live|title=Argentina's media takes aim at Milei's craziest side|website=The Brazilian Report|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230710144034/https://brazilian.report/latin-america/2023/07/09/argentina-media-attack-milei/|archive-date=10 July 2023|access-date=1 December 2023}} These dogs he considers Conan's sons, and his own grandsons. The sixth dog, who died shortly after the procedure, was named Angelito ("little angel").{{cite news|url=https://www.ambito.com/politica/revelan-los-secretos-misticos-javier-milei-esoterismo-la-mision-dios-y-charlas-su-perro-muerto-n5762291|url-status=live|title=Revelan los secretos místicos de Javier Milei: esoterismo, la 'misión' de dios y charlas con su perro muerto|work=Ámbito Financiero|language=es|date=5 July 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816212533/https://www.ambito.com/politica/revelan-los-secretos-misticos-javier-milei-esoterismo-la-mision-dios-y-charlas-su-perro-muerto-n5762291|archive-date=16 August 2023|access-date=1 December 2023}} Milei refers to the dogs as his "four-legged children".{{cite magazine |last=De Guzman |first=Chad |date=20 November 2023 |title=Argentina Just Elected an Eccentric Populist Who Seeks Counsel From His Cloned Dogs |url=https://time.com/6337474/javier-milei-argentina-president-cloned-dogs-advice/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129002707/https://time.com/6337474/javier-milei-argentina-president-cloned-dogs-advice/ |archive-date=29 November 2023 |access-date=1 December 2023 |magazine=Time |issn=0040-781X}}

Milei allegedly stated that he communicates with the dogs through a mystic,{{cite news|url=https://www.ilpost.it/2023/08/14/chi-e-javier-milei-il-leader-di-estrema-destra-che-ha-vinto-le-primarie-in-argentina|url-status=live|title=Javier Milei, il leader di estrema destra che ha vinto le primarie in Argentina|work=Il Post|language=it|date=14 August 2023|issn=2610-9980|archive-date=16 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230816173456/https://www.ilpost.it/2023/08/14/chi-e-javier-milei-il-leader-di-estrema-destra-che-ha-vinto-le-primarie-in-argentina/|access-date=1 December 2023}} and that he seeks counseling from them. He also allegedly commented that the new Conan provides ideas on general strategy, Robert is the one who makes him "see the future and learn from mistakes", Milton is in charge of political analysis, and Murray of the economy.{{cite web|last=Pokorowski|first=Federico|date=30 July 2023|url=https://diariolateral.com.ar/elecciones-2023-el-loco-un-viaje-al-lado-oscuro-de-javier-milei|url-status=live|title=Elecciones 2023: 'El loco', un viaje al lado oscuro de Javier Milei|website=El Destape|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231120141136/https://diariolateral.com.ar/elecciones-2023-el-loco-un-viaje-al-lado-oscuro-de-javier-milei/|archive-date=20 November 2023|access-date=1 December 2023|via=Diario Lateral}} When asked about this by El País journalist Martín Sivak and Nicolás Lucca of Radio Rivadavia, Milei did not deny it, and said: "What I do with my spiritual life and in my house is my business. If Conan were to advice me on politics, considering how I did, it'd mean that he's the best consultant of humanity." In addition to having dialogues with the likes of Rothbard and Ayn Rand, Milei allegedly cited Conan as a source of inspiration for his writings in 2015.

2023 presidential campaign

File:Álbum familiar de Javier Milei.jpg was his first Instagram post after being elected president.]]

Since Milei's rise to prominence in politics, Conan and the other mastiffs cloned after him attracted international attention due to Milei's comments about them. Milei does not distinguish between the current cloned Conan and the original, considering both to be his son, and the other puppies his grandchildren. He has claimed to receive policy and campaign advice from his dogs, and thanked them after his win in the 2023 Argentine primary elections.{{cite news|last=Viriglio|first=Veronique|date=16 August 2023|url=https://www.agi.it/estero/news/2023-08-16/argentina-milei-outsider-contro-kirchnerismo-22630111|url-status=live|title=Il 'Trump argentino' che sfida Kirchner|language=it|work=AGI|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230818050757/https://www.agi.it/estero/news/2023-08-16/argentina-milei-outsider-contro-kirchnerismo-22630111/|archive-date=18 August 2023|access-date=1 December 2023}}

Ron Gillespie, who runs PerPETuate, a genetic preservation company in Hawaii, said about Milei's cloned mastiffs: "I don't have a vote in the Argentine election, but I do have five dogs in the race."{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/20/pageoneplus/quotation-of-the-day-in-argentina-five-cloned-dogs-and-an-unusual-political-run.html|url-status=live|title=Quotation of the Day: In Argentina, Five Cloned Dogs and an Unusual Political Run|work=The New York Times|date=20 October 2023|issn=0362-4331|page=2|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231129204734/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/20/pageoneplus/quotation-of-the-day-in-argentina-five-cloned-dogs-and-an-unusual-political-run.html|archive-date=29 November 2023|access-date=1 December 2023}} Milei maintains that he and Conan have a mission assigned to them by God. According to various sources consulted by La Nación, Milei maintains that he and Conan first met in a previous life more than 2,000 years ago as a gladiator and a lion in the Roman Colosseum, and that the pair did not fight because they were destined to join forces in the future, referring to his presidential campaign.

File:Fórmula presidencial Milei-Villarruel (cropped).png as president of Argentina with vice president Victoria Villarruel at their inauguration on 10 December 2023]]

On 24 November 2023, Milei shared an AI-generated image on his Instagram that depicts himself and his five dogs (with one of them much larger than the others in reference to Conan), calling it his "family album" in the caption.{{cite news|url=https://www.lacapital.com.ar/politica/el-album-familiar-javier-mileijunto-sus-5-perros-n10103653.html|url-status=live|title=El 'álbum familiar' de Javier Milei junto a sus 5 perros|work=La Capital|language=es|date=24 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231211141659/https://www.lacapital.com.ar/politica/el-album-familiar-javier-mileijunto-sus-5-perros-n10103653.html|archive-date=11 December 2023|access-date=11 December 2023}} The image, which was widely commented on online, was his first post on the social network after being elected president five days earlier.{{cite news|url=https://www.ambito.com/politica/javier-milei-conan-y-el-resto-sus-perros-la-foto-ia-que-posteo-instagram-n5883924|url-status=live|title=Javier Milei, Conan y el resto de sus perros: la foto con IA que posteó en Instagram|work=Ámbito Financiero|language=es|date=24 November 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204060258/https://www.ambito.com/politica/javier-milei-conan-y-el-resto-sus-perros-la-foto-ia-que-posteo-instagram-n5883924|archive-date=4 December 2023|access-date=11 December 2023}}

On his inauguration as Argentina's president, Milei broke with the tradition of using an official presidential baton (Spanish: {{ill|Bastón presidencial (Argentina)|lt=bastón presidencial|es}}) carved by goldsmith {{ill|Juan Carlos Pallarols|es}}, opting for a design featuring Conan and his four clones carved on it.{{cite news|last=Devita|first=Marina|date=10 December 2023|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/sorprendente-baston-presidencial-javier-milei-perros-tallados_0_85MfZoz8Wf.html|url-status=live|title=El sorprendente bastón presidencial de Javier Milei con sus cinco perros tallados|work=Clarín|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210191844/https://www.clarin.com/politica/sorprendente-baston-presidencial-javier-milei-perros-tallados_0_85MfZoz8Wf.html|archive-date=10 December 2023|access-date=11 December 2023}} According to sources consulted by Clarín, Milei will bring his four dogs to live with him in the Quinta de Olivos (the official presidential residence), which has caused security concerns among the staff there, as they are known to be "problematic".{{cite news|last=Niebieskikwiat|first=Natasha|date=10 December 2023|url=https://www.clarin.com/politica/nueva-vida-milei-olivos-temor-seguridad-perros-mastines-presidente-electo_0_ghqTejwRYP.html|url-status=live|title=La nueva vida de Milei en Olivos: temor en la seguridad por los perros mastines del nuevo presidente|work=Clarín|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231209111720/https://www.clarin.com/politica/nueva-vida-milei-olivos-temor-seguridad-perros-mastines-presidente-electo_0_ghqTejwRYP.html|archive-date=9 December 2023|access-date=11 December 2023}} Milei announced that the presidential residence would be renovated to accommodate the four dogs, who are used to living separately.