President Donald Trump, left, greets Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni upon her arrival at the White House in Washington. AP
The meeting took place amid ongoing trade tensions, with Trump’s 20 percent tariffs on EU exports currently paused for 90 days to allow for negotiations.
Meloni, the first European leader to meet with Trump since the tariffs were imposed, has criticised the duties but remains optimistic about finding common ground.
"I'm sure we can make a deal, and I'm here to help with that," Meloni told reporters as the two leaders began their lunch in the Cabinet Room.
Trump echoed Meloni’s optimism, saying he was "100 percent" confident a deal could be reached, but stressed it must be "fair." He added, "We're going to have very little problem making a deal with Europe... because we have something that everybody wants," though he emphasized, "We’re in no rush," explaining he liked the revenues the tariffs could generate.
Despite the ongoing trade tensions, Meloni reaffirmed her belief in "unity" and in the US as a reliable partner. "If I didn't think the United States is a reliable partner, I wouldn't be here," she added, before reporters were ushered out for private talks between the two leaders and their delegations.
Trump’s trade dispute with the EU has heightened geopolitical uncertainty, but senior US officials have indicated that Meloni could be pivotal in bridging the gap between Washington and Brussels. One US official said, "Hopefully the Prime Minister and the President will be able to advance the ball down the field."
Meloni, who has been described as sharing many of Trump’s conservative views, is expected to push for a "zero for zero" formula to eliminate tariffs on industrial products, a proposal that has received cautious support from the European Commission.
However, Trump is also likely to raise his demand for NATO allies to increase defence spending, a significant challenge for debt-laden Italy. Despite this, Meloni has called for calm, urging Brussels not to retaliate and positioning herself as the only EU leader who could help de-escalate the trade conflict.
The visit comes at a time when Meloni’s relationship with Trump is seen as particularly close. She was the only European leader invited to Trump’s inauguration in January, and US officials have noted that the two are "eye-to-eye" on several key issues, including immigration and Ukraine.
After Thursday’s meeting, Meloni will return to Rome on Friday, where she is set to meet US Senator JD Vance. Trump’s threatened tariffs, if implemented, could significantly affect Italy, the world’s fourth-largest exporter, which sends around 10 percent of its exports to the United States.
*This story was edited by Ahram Online.
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