by InTrieste
In a high-profile visit to the White House on Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met with U.S. President Donald J. Trump, striking a tone of alignment and ambition as she vowed to “make the West great again.”
The meeting, which came amid heightened trade tensions following Trump’s announcement of 20 percent tariffs on European Union imports—currently paused for 90 days—marked the first face-to-face between Trump and a European leader since the move. While no breakthrough on tariffs emerged, both leaders projected confidence in their ability to forge a “fair” trade agreement in the months ahead.
“There will be a trade deal, 100 percent,” Trump said in the Oval Office, sitting beside Meloni. “But it will be a fair deal, and we’re in no rush.” The former reality TV star turned president offered effusive praise for Meloni, calling her a “fantastic” leader who had “taken Europe by storm.”
Meloni, for her part, described the meeting as “fair and constructive,” touching on what she called “strategic priorities” ranging from trade and defense to immigration and security. Writing on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, she said the two also discussed “the fight against illegal immigration” and broader geopolitical cooperation between the U.S. and Europe.
Yet it was her rhetorical flourish—“make the West great again”—that dominated headlines across both sides of the Atlantic. Speaking passionately about a shared vision of “Western nationalism” and a united front against “woke ideology,” Meloni echoed Trump’s combative cultural tone, aligning herself with his broader worldview.
The Italian premier, who was the only EU head of government to attend Trump’s January inauguration, continues to position herself as a key interlocutor between Washington and Brussels. Her visit comes as Europe grapples with how to navigate Trump’s return to power and a possible shift in the transatlantic relationship.
Despite her earlier criticism of the new tariffs—calling them “wrong” and unhelpful to either side—Meloni struck a conciliatory tone in Washington, suggesting an eventual compromise is within reach. “I’m sure we can reach an agreement,” she told reporters.
Meloni also announced that Trump had accepted an invitation to visit Rome in the near future, and that he was open to meeting with European Union representatives during his stay.
The trip, though brief, was seen as a diplomatic coup for Meloni, who returned to Rome ahead of a scheduled meeting Friday with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance. Her ongoing engagement with the Trump administration has bolstered her image as a transatlantic power broker—and, increasingly, as the so-called “Trump whisperer” of Europe.
As the EU braces for what could be a turbulent chapter in U.S.-Europe relations, Meloni appears intent on positioning herself not only as a bridge—but as a bold standard-bearer for a new kind of Western alliance.
