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Giorgia Meloni aiming to act as bridge between EU and US in Trump meeting Meloni says Trump to visit Rome after Washington talks over tariffs
(about 5 hours later)
Italian PM’s summit with US president has provoked trepidation among some European allies Trump praises Italian PM and accepts invitation that could present chance for him to meet other European leaders
Europe live – latest updates Giorgia Meloni said Donald Trump had accepted her invitation for an official trip to Rome, as the pair met in Washington in an attempt by the Italian prime minister to bridge the gap between the EU and US amid trade tariff tensions.
Giorgia Meloni will attempt to burnish her credentials as a possible bridge between the EU and the US during a high-stakes summit with Donald Trump in the White House on Thursday, the first European leader to meet the US president since he announced and then paused some of his planned trade tariff hikes. Meloni said Trump’s trip could happen “in the near future” and could present an opportunity for him to meet other European leaders.
Italy’s far-right prime minister, who has nurtured friendly relations with Trump, arrived in Washington on Wednesday night. The pair will have lunch at 12pm local time before the meeting in the Oval Office, which will be attended by a pool of White House reporters and Italian journalists. “The goal for me is to make the west great again,” Meloni said.
“As you can imagine, I’m feeling no pressure at all,” Meloni joked at an event in Rome this week. “It’s a difficult moment, let’s see how the situation develops, but let’s remember that we have the strength, ability and intelligence to overcome any obstacle.” Trump opened the summit in the Oval Office on Thursday by saying Meloni was “doing a fantastic job” and had “taken Europe by storm”, adding that she “has become a friend”.
Trump imposed 20% tariffs on EU products before suspending them for 90 days. The EU is subject to a 10% tariff imposed across most countries around the world since 5 April. Trump and Meloni had earlier both expressed optimism about resolving the EU-US trade conflict. The EU faces 25% import tariffs on steel and aluminium and cars, and broader tariffs on almost all other goods, under Trump’s policy to hit countries he says impose high barriers to US imports.
Before leaving for Washington, Meloni discussed the summit with the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen. Germany’s outgoing chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and his successor, Friedrich Merz, also discussed the meeting with Meloni, according to reports in the German edition of Politico. Scholz failed to get a meeting with Trump and Merz’s request is reportedly pending. “I am sure we can make a deal and I am here to help with that,” Meloni said before the summit.
Meloni has described Trump’s tariffs on EU goods as “wrong”, but she appears to be taking a more cautious approach as she manages a delicate balancing act between her political ideals, which are more in tune with Trump’s, and Italy’s role within the EU. Trump said that broadly speaking he expected he would make an announcement about trade deals but he was in no rush. “We’re going to have very little problem making a deal with Europe or anybody else, because we have something that everybody wants,” Trump said.
The meeting has provoked trepidation among some of Italy’s European allies as well as Meloni’s domestic opposition amid fears their closeness risks jeopardising the bloc’s unified approach to the tariffs and other issues. Before leaving for Washington, Meloni discussed the summit with the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen.
Germany’s outgoing chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and his successor, Friedrich Merz, also discussed the meeting with Meloni, according to reports in the German edition of Politico. Scholz failed to get a meeting with Trump and Merz’s request is reportedly pending.
Meloni had previously described Trump’s tariffs on EU goods as “wrong” but she appears to be taking a more cautious approach as she manages a delicate balancing act between her political ideals, which are more in tune with Trump’s, and Italy’s role within the EU.
The meeting provoked trepidation among some of Italy’s European allies as well as Meloni’s domestic opposition amid fears their closeness risks jeopardising the bloc’s unified approach to the tariffs and other issues.
Enrico Borghi, a politician with the centrist Italia Viva party, told a TV talkshow: “The advice from the opposition is that the prime minister returns home with reopened negotiations between the US and EU that will guarantee a framework of relative tranquility to our economic and productive system, which has been weakened by what is a real trade war.”Enrico Borghi, a politician with the centrist Italia Viva party, told a TV talkshow: “The advice from the opposition is that the prime minister returns home with reopened negotiations between the US and EU that will guarantee a framework of relative tranquility to our economic and productive system, which has been weakened by what is a real trade war.”
Italy is the third largest exporter to the US from the EU, although Meloni’s office denied she would seek special tariff exemptions on Italian products. Italy has strong economic ties with the US that go beyond exports, including foreign direct investments. Italy is the third-largest exporter to the US from the EU. Meloni’s office denied she would seek special tariff exemptions on Italian products. Italy has strong economic ties with the US that go beyond exports, including foreign direct investments.
The summit is expected to address Trump’s demand that Nato partners increase military spending to 2% of GDP. Italy’s share is now at 1.49%, among the lowest in Europe. The summit was expected to address Trump’s demand that Nato partners increase military spending to 2% of GDP. Italy is at 1.49%, among the lowest in Europe.
This will be Meloni’s third visit to the White House, with the two previous occasions taking place during Joe Biden’s administration. It was Meloni’s third visit to the White House, with the two previous occasions taking place during Joe Biden’s administration.
She will return to Rome in time to meet on Friday Trump’s deputy, JD Vance, whose blistering attack on Europe at the Munich Security Conference in February she has defended. She will return to Rome in time to meet on Friday Trump’s vice-president, JD Vance, whose blistering attack on Europe at the Munich Security Conference in February she has defended.
Vance will also meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, during his Easter weekend visit.Vance will also meet Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican’s secretary of state, during his Easter weekend visit.