Italy’s Meloni makes surprise visit to see Trump in Florida
The Italian prime minister flew to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort on Saturday for an informal meeting.
January 5, 2025 2:23 pm CET
By Hannah Roberts
Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made a whirlwind visit to Donald Trump at his Florida retreat on Saturday, as European leaders attempt to bolster ties with the incoming United States president.
Meloni flew to Palm Beach to spend a few hours with Trump ahead of his inauguration on Jan. 20. Trump called her “a fantastic woman” who “had taken Europe by storm.”
Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party posted a picture with Trump’s comments on X, adding “We are critical players once again.”
The unannounced visit to Florida came ahead of Meloni’s planned talks with President Joe Biden this week in Rome, the last international trip of Biden’s presidency.
Observers expected Meloni and Trump to talk about Ukraine, potential U.S. tariffs on European companies and the Middle East. Meloni is above all keen to find a quick solution to the detention of an Italian journalist in Iran.
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https://www.politico.eu/article/italy-giorgia-meloni-surprise-visit-us-donald-trump-florida/
