Economy

That April, Macri's 2016-18 debt bubble burst.

Collapse would've surely followed (as it did in Lebanon and Sri Lanka) - but miraculously, the IMF granted Macri's shameless request for a record, $57 billion bailout.

The IMF board, of course, objected - but they were summarily overruled.

The supervisor of the bailout, Italy's Roberto Cardarelli, was unequivocal: It was granted on Trump's orders, and for the sole purpose of getting his pal Macri re-elected in 2019.

When Macri was soundly defeated in the first round in August, the bailout was immediately cut off. That was "the string."

But by then $45 billion had been lent - leaving Argentina a massive, new debt the current president (the beleaguered Alberto Fernández) referred to as "the largest campaign contribution in world history."

So it was (like so many things Trump) both illegal and pointless. Argentina's still struggling to pay it off - hence their need for Chinese aid.