Italian Prime Minister Meloni meets with US President Trump on EU tariffs

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is the first European leader to have a face-to-face with President Donald Trump since he announced, and then suspended, 20% tariffs on European exports.

While she meets with Trump in her capacity as Italy’s premier, she’s also, in a sense, been “knighted” to represent the European Union at a critical juncture in the trade war.

The Italian premier said in the Oval Office that Trump has accepted an invitation for an official trip to her country.

No date was disclosed. Vice President JD Vance is leaving today for his own visit to Rome.

She flattered the U.S. leader in their meeting, saying “the goal for me is to make the West great again,” echoing Trump’s campaign slogan. Meloni said she shares his fight against “woke” ideology.

Trump also praised his Italian counterpart. “She has taken Europe by storm,” he said.

After lots of false starts, the president said the U.S. is ready to deal with Ukraine on access to critical minerals in the country.

“We have a minerals deal,” Trump said in the Oval Office.