WORLD NEWS
US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni have voiced optimism over reaching a US-EU trade deal amid rising economic uncertainties. The two leaders met at the White House on Thursday, where they discussed tariffs, trade, and shared concerns about the future of the West.
Meloni, who has positioned herself as a key figure to de-escalate Trump’s trade tensions with Europe, emphasized the alignment of their conservative views, declaring, “I want to make the West great again.” Trump, in turn, expressed confidence in the negotiations, stating, “There will be a trade deal, 100 percent.”
A Warm and Productive Meeting
During their working lunch and Oval Office meeting, Trump hailed Meloni as a “fantastic” leader and expressed his support for her approach to international relations. Meloni is the first European leader to visit Trump since he imposed a 20 percent tariff on EU exports, which he later suspended for 90 days.
Meloni described the meeting as productive, mentioning that Trump had accepted an invitation to visit Rome in the near future, where he may also meet with European leaders. Despite some ongoing challenges between the US and EU, Meloni emphasized the importance of dialogue, stating, “Even if we have some problems between the two shores of the Atlantic, it is time we try to sit down and find solutions.”
Shared Conservative Ideals and Challenges Ahead
Meloni also stressed their common stance on issues like immigration and the rise of “woke” culture. She said, “The goal for me is to make the West great again, and I think we can do it together.”
However, while Trump was optimistic about securing a deal, he made it clear that he was in no rush. “Everybody wants to make a deal – and if they don’t want to make a deal, we’ll make the deal for them,” he added.
Federiga Bindi, professor at the University of Rome Tor Vergata, noted that while Meloni’s position is unique, she faces the challenge of balancing Italy's interests with those of the broader EU. Bindi drew comparisons to former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who successfully leveraged his relationship with US President George W. Bush despite being an outsider in European politics.
A More Complex Relationship with Europe
Trump’s remarks during the meeting also touched on broader issues affecting the US-EU relationship. He reiterated his criticisms of Europe, urging it to “get smart” on immigration and to increase defense spending within NATO.
When it came to Russia’s war in Ukraine, Trump’s position was clear: he is “not a big fan” of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, despite Meloni’s strong support for Ukraine. Meloni has been one of the staunchest allies of Zelenskyy, especially following Russia’s invasion in 2022, recently condemning Moscow's attack on the Ukrainian city of Sumy as “horrible and vile.”
The Road Ahead
While the leaders’ meeting was cordial, the path to a trade deal remains uncertain. Trump’s past approach to international relations has often been unpredictable, and Europe’s relationship with the US continues to evolve. Meloni, who has positioned herself as a potential bridge between Trump and the broader EU, will need to navigate these complexities as she seeks to secure a deal beneficial for all parties.
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