Giorgia Meloni of Italy meets Trump amid EU anxiety

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with President Trump at the White House on Thursday, which her aides called a “business peace mission.”

European leaders hope Italy's right-wing prime minister Can position yourself as a bridge between the Trump administration and the EU, Mr. Trump and his top aides are under fire As a boring personif not a companion to abuse defense and trade.

Mr Trump told reporters on Thursday that there would be a deal with the EU “of course”. 90-day pause On his “reciprocity” tariffs. When asked if the EU is on the list of countries priorities for reaching a trade deal, Trump said: “Everyone is on my priority list.”

The president said he and Meloni discussed trade in the first meeting today, “a lot of things.” But it is unclear how much progress Trump and Meloni have made in discussing any form of trade agreement.

Not only in Rome, but also in the EU capital of the group of 27 countries, Meloni may convince Mr. Trump not to impose huge tariffs he threatens to threaten, which could destroy European economies. A reporter asked Meloni if ​​she thought the United States was a reliable partner.

Meloni replied, “If I didn’t think this was a reliable partner, I wouldn’t be here.”

Meloney said she “find the best way to make both of us stronger.”

“For me, the goal is to make the West great again,” Meloney said. “And I think we can do it together.”

Finance Minister Scott Bessent told reporters he believes there is a trade call with the EU and the United States is trying to work with the world's 15 largest economies first. “Tariffs make us rich,” the president said.

Meloney and Trump seem to be “get along well”

Meloni positioned himself as the most likely thing European leader Mr. Trump listened to. The two have established relationships on issues including immigration and LGBTQ rights based on shared political and ideological affinity.

Meloni Praise her Calling her a “a great leader and person” multiple times, he might work with someone to “figure the world a little bit.”

after Reopen Notre Dame Cathedral In Paris, where both leaders attended, Mr. Trump was quoted by the New York Post: “I'm with her a lot” and “we get along well.”

However, Italian leaders will have to try to balance this budding special relationship between not only protecting the interests of their own national economy, but also the interests of the EU that are not important to Italy's financial future.

Europe has hope and anxiety about Trump-Meloney meeting

A committee spokesman said Meloni and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen discussed strategies on how to meet with Trump on multiple phone calls before the trip.

Despite repeated requests, von der Leyen himself has not received a meeting with Mr. Trump. Meloni sat down at the White House Tariffs in almost every country The United States traded in early April. this EU hit Despite Mr. Trump Put these higher rates on hold About 90 days later, with the rise of global stock markets, the prevalence rate reached 10%.

Meloni has placed the full tariffs on the EU in the “wrong”, but she has been one of the voices urging Continental not to take retaliation, insisting that a calm response focused on negotiations would lead to a more constructive solution.

The White House claims dozens of counties stepped up to try to negotiate with the United States on a new trade deal, and Mr. Trump boasted that leaders were calling him and “kissing my ass” and begging for a strike deal to avoid re-imposed on higher taxes.

“We know we're having a tough time, let's see how it goes in the next few hours. I can imagine, I don't have the pressure I imagined,” Meloney said at the awards ceremony two days before the White House meeting. “I know my representatives, I know my own defense.”

However, not all European politicians are so optimistic about the potential outcome of the Trump-Meloni meeting. “The most important thing is that Meloni does not allow Trump to split the European front with himself,” said Carlo Lie Calendar, an Italian opposition politician.

In other European capitals, there is obvious anxiety about the possibility that the White House could use meetings to try to undermine EU solidarity.

French government's Minister of Industry and Energy Marc Ferracci said last week: “If we start bilateral discussions, it will obviously break the current dynamics.

French news agency AFP said a government spokesman later stressed that any voice that would encourage dialogue between Washington and the EU would be welcome. The statement responded to a speech by an EU spokesman on Monday, who noted the close coordination between Meloni and von der Leyen before the Italian leader traveled to Washington and said “outreach was very welcome.”

Italian leaders will return home after a brief visit to Washington, and she is expected to visit the Italian capital and Vatican’s vice president on Friday with JD Vance.

French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin have met with Mr Trump in the Oval Office since he took office for the second term, but these encounters came ahead of the massive tariff announcement on April 2.