running for president when the argentine economy was not performing well, macri campaigned on a platform of change, and promised to pass free market reforms of the economy. macri made major economic changes as soon as he entered office, hoping to help create jobs. he also is changing the country's foreign policy. while the president that came before him, cristina fernandez de kirchner, had criticized the united states' policies, macri has improved relations. in 2016, barack obama visited argentina. the two talked about improving relations, issues in the hemisphere, and an apology from the united states for its support of the dictatorship in argentina (as well as in several other latin american countries) in the 1970s and 80s.