Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni traveled to Florida on Sunday to meet with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, aiming to strengthen ties with him ahead of his January 20 inauguration, reports Index.hr.
Meloni received a warm welcome at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, where staff greeted her with applause as Trump introduced her. Videos of the event were widely shared on social media.
Strengthening U.S.-Italy Relations
The meeting took place just days before Meloni is set to host outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden in Rome from Thursday to January 12. Trump defeated Biden in the November elections and is preparing for his return to the White House.
While details of their discussion have not been disclosed, Italian media suggest that Meloni and Trump planned to cover a wide range of topics, including the war in Ukraine, trade issues, the Middle East, and the case of an Italian journalist detained in Tehran.
A Key European Ally for Trump
Meloni is viewed as a potentially pivotal partner for Trump in Europe, given her conservative agenda and the stability of the right-wing coalition she leads in Italy.
In addition to her ties with Trump, Meloni has established a close relationship with billionaire Elon Musk, a staunch Trump ally who reportedly spent over $250 million supporting Trump’s election campaign.
Trump Praises Meloni
“This is very exciting. I’m here with a fantastic woman, the Prime Minister of Italy,” Trump said at the event, as reported by media outlets. “She has conquered Europe.”
Meloni’s visit underscores the strategic importance of U.S.-Italy relations and her alignment with Trump’s vision for conservative politics on the global stage.
