Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni travelled to Florida on Saturday for a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump to strengthen relations with the incoming U.S. leader before his inauguration on January 20.
At Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, attendees greeted Meloni with enthusiastic applause following an introduction by the president-elect, as captured in videos circulated on social media by reporters and others.
Her journey occurs just days before she meets with U.S. President Joe Biden during her visit to Rome, set to take place from Thursday until January 12. In a surprising turn of events, Trump has emerged victorious over Biden in the November election, setting the stage for his anticipated return to the White House.
Although specifics regarding their meeting remain under wraps, reports from Italian media indicate that Meloni intended to discuss several pressing topics with Trump, including Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, trade matters, the situation in the Middle East, and the case of an Italian journalist in Tehran.
Officials from Meloni’s office have refrained from providing any comments regarding the reports.
Her conservative credentials and the stability of the right-wing coalition she leads in Italy position her as a potentially formidable ally for Trump. She has developed a strong connection with billionaire tech CEO Elon Musk, a prominent ally of Trump who invested over a quarter-billion dollars to support his election campaign.
There is a palpable sense of excitement surrounding this development. During an event at Mar-a-Lago, Trump addressed the audience, stating, “I’m here with a fantastic woman, the prime minister of Italy,” as reported by a media pool. “She has made a significant impact across Europe.”
Former President Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently convened for a documentary screening that delves into the criminal investigations and legal challenges confronting John Eastman, a retired attorney for Trump who played a pivotal role in the attempts to reverse the outcome of the 2020 election.
The arrest of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala in Iran on December 19 presents a significant challenge for Meloni.
Sala’s detention occurred three days following the arrest of Mohammad Abedini, an Iranian businessman, at Milan’s Malpensa airport. Abedini was taken into custody on a U.S. warrant, accused of providing drone components that, according to Washington, were utilized in a 2023 attack that resulted in the deaths of three U.S. service members in Jordan. The Iranian government has refuted any claims of its participation in the recent attack.
On Friday, Iranian state media reported that the country’s foreign ministry summoned the ambassador of Italy in response to the detention of Abedini.
Meloni joined a select group of foreign leaders who travelled to Florida to meet with Trump following the November 5 election. The individual has discussed with Argentinian President Javier Milei, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
