Giorgia Meloni paid an unannounced visit to President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Saturday. The meeting shows Meloni’s intention to strengthen Italy’s diplomatic ties with the United States.
Meloni is the third European leader to meet Donald Trump following his re-election. Previously, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and French President Emmanuel Macron visited the President-elect. Other recent visitors to Mar-a-Lago include Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Argentinian President Javier Milei, Trump’s first post-election guest.
During the event, Trump introduced Meloni to Mar-a-Lago members, receiving applause. “This is very exciting,” Trump said. “I’m here with a fantastic woman, the prime minister of Italy. She’s really taken Europe by storm.”
The two leaders attended a private screening of a documentary about conservative lawyers facing legal system challenges, alongside prominent members of Trump’s incoming administration. Present were Florida Senator Marco Rubio, Trump’s Secretary of State nominee, Representative Mike Waltz, slated for National Security Adviser, and Scott Bessent, nominated as Treasury Secretary.
Discussions on Global Challenges
Meloni used the meeting to address pressing issues, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, trade tensions, and Middle Eastern stability. A key topic was the detention of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala in Iran, who was arrested while reporting in Tehran. Sala’s detention has heightened tensions between Italy and Iran, which demands the release of Mohammad Abedini, an Iranian engineer arrested in Milan on a U.S. warrant. Abedini is accused of supplying drone components linked to a deadly attack in Jordan last year that killed three U.S. service members.
Italian media reports suggest Meloni sought Trump’s support in securing Sala’s release while balancing Italy’s broader geopolitical concerns.
Diplomatic Significance
Tommaso Foti, Italy’s EU and Regional Affairs Minister, emphasised the meeting’s importance, stating Italy can act as “a diplomatic bridge between two worlds: the European Union and the USA.”
The visit underscores Meloni’s growing stature on the international stage. Meloni is seen as a stabilising figure in Italian politics and a key conservative ally in Europe.
Meloni has also cultivated relationships with influential figures like Elon Musk, a staunch Trump supporter. Musk’s backing of Trump’s campaign reportedly exceeded $250 million.
Upcoming Meetings with President Biden
The Mar-a-Lago visit precedes a scheduled meeting between Meloni and current U.S. President Joe Biden in Rome later this week. Biden is expected to thank Meloni for her leadership of the G7 over the past year and discuss key areas of U.S.-Italy cooperation, including security, trade, and energy.
