Italy's Meloni says 'we hope to make the West great again' in Trump meeting

[Social Media]

 

Meloni and Trump Signal Hope for US-EU Trade Deal Amid Tariff Tensions

 

From the moment she arrived at the White House, Giorgia Meloni was warmly welcomed. Trump called her a "great prime minister" and said she had "taken Europe by storm". The high-profile meeting at the White House, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed strong optimism about the prospects of a renewed trade agreement between the United States and the European Union.

 

NEW: Meloni just called on Trump to form a historic alliance between Italy and the U.S. to ‘Make the West Great Again.’

This wasn’t your typical diplomatic moment—it was a clear shot across the bow of globalism.

Meloni made it clear: the fight to save the West isn’t about maps… pic.twitter.com/wmHzA5gRi1

— The Vigilant Fox 🦊 (@VigilantFox) April 17, 2025

 

“There will be a trade deal, 100%,” Trump declared during a joint press conference. “But it will be a fair deal,” he emphasized, underscoring his long-standing position on trade imbalances. Meloni, echoing his confidence, stated she was “sure” a deal could be reached and later added, “The goal for me is to make the West great again, and I think we can do it together.”

 

 

Meloni’s visit marks the first by a European leader to Washington since Trump imposed and then suspended 20% tariffs on European imports. Although she did not secure any immediate concessions on the tariffs during this visit, her ability to maintain a positive rapport with Trump and secure an invitation for him to visit Rome is being seen as a diplomatic achievement in its own right. During the meeting, she positioned herself as a key interlocutor between the EU and a potentially returning Trump administration, a role some have dubbed the “Trump whisperer.”

 

 

While the pair discussed a wide range of topics—including defense spending, immigration, and trade—the atmosphere in the Oval Office remained warm and collegial. Their easy rapport was reminiscent of the friendly reception given to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer during his own visit earlier in the year. Meloni, who had previously described the tariffs as “absolutely wrong,” warned they would end up harming both the U.S. and EU economies.

🚨 What a beautiful moment!

President Donald Trump’s welcome to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni

We are honored and proud 🇮🇹 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/fLAcTk2KSU

— Mambo Italiano (@mamboitaliano__) April 17, 2025

 

Though tangible policy outcomes were limited, Meloni did succeed in persuading Trump to accept an invitation to Rome. She hopes this future visit will serve as a platform for dialogue between Trump and key European figures, potentially including Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission. Such a meeting could prove pivotal in mending transatlantic tensions and reinforcing European voices ahead of a possible second Trump term.

 

Meloni also took the opportunity to highlight her government's domestic achievements. “I'm proud of sitting here as prime minister of an Italy that today has a very good situation—a stable country, a reliable country,” she said. She cited falling inflation and improved employment figures as signs of progress, before turning to Trump with a grin and saying, “Forgive me if I promote my country, but you're a businessman and you understand me.” Trump responded with a broad smile.

 

In her post-meeting remarks, Meloni didn’t shy away from ideological themes either. She criticized what she termed “woke ideology” and reaffirmed her government’s stance in the “war against illegal migration,” underscoring her alignment with Trump on cultural and security matters.

The next stop on Meloni’s diplomatic push will be her meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in Rome, further cementing her growing influence in transatlantic politics. Whether or not a trade deal materializes in the near future, her visit to Washington has clearly elevated her profile as a key player in shaping the future of EU-U.S. relations.

 

Based on a report by BBC  2025-04-18

 

 

[HappyExpat57]

Did JD do his bitch thing and admonish her for not wearing a tie?

[Cryingdick]

55 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Did JD do his bitch thing and admonish her for not wearing a tie?

 

No JD has no problem distinguishing the difference between a man and a woman.

[HappyExpat57]

3 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

 

No JD has no problem distinguishing the difference between a man and a woman.

That was a rhetorical question.

[Cryingdick]

1 minute ago, HappyExpat57 said:

That was a rhetorical question.

 

It was a rhetorical answer.

[candide]

Meloni has not much power on this matter, so it's mainly symbolic. 

In order to better understand her stance, it should be noted that one of her close advisors is Mario Draghi (the author of the report).

[CallumWK]

3 hours ago, Social Media said:

“There will be a trade deal, 100%,” Trump declared during a joint press conference. “But it will be a fair deal,” he emphasized,

 

We all know what he considers fair, as he already rejected the EU's offer to a zero tariff deal.

 

Hope she said thank you.

[FlorC]

Love it that he ignores Ursula von der Leyen. (for now at least)

[CallumWK]

2 minutes ago, FlorC said:

Love it that he ignores Ursula von der Leyen. (for now at least)

 

Or could it be that is because Ursula has made clear she is ready for the fight, after Trump rejected their zero tariff offer?

 

You seem to be quite ignorant if you didn't know that.

 

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-offers-trump-removal-of-all-tariffs/

 

BRUSSELS — The EU has offered the United States a “zero-for-zero” tariff scheme, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Monday, seeking to avoid a tit-for-tat trade war.

“We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods as we have successfully done with many other trading partners. Because Europe is always ready for a good deal. So we keep it on the table,” she told a press conference alongside Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

 

Von der Leyen also did not rule out retaliation: “We are also prepared to respond through countermeasures and defend our interests,” she said.

[FlorC]

^ I knew that.

Still he chose Meloni , not Ursula.

[Chomper Higgot]

How did that workout the last time an Italian got ideas along those lines?

 

[Yagoda]

30 minutes ago, FlorC said:

Love it that he ignores Ursula von der Leyen. (for now at least)

Shes a nobody. The EU is a house of cards.

[Yagoda]

12 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

How did that workout the last time an Italian got ideas along those lines?

 

Different ideologies. Melonis Democracy and Republicanism for the benefit of the people vis a vis Socialism.

[Tug]

She’s no fool she knows what buttons to push to manipulate trump just like Putin little Kim ect ect 

[Yagoda]

Just now, Tug said:

She’s no fool she knows what buttons to push to manipulate trump just like Putin little Kim ect ect 

What buttons are that? Tell us what facts support your hatespew?

[JonnyF]

Great to see these 2 legends in the same room, with no Von Der Leyen to be seen. 

 

Hopefully Trump gets the leaders of the EU member states on side, one by one. 

 

 

[Tug]

2 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

What buttons are that? Tell us what facts support your hatespew?

Uoooo a new one hatespew lol 😂 ask any psychiatrist how to manipulate a malignant narcissist hummm???unfortunatly my country is in the grips of one rite now.

[save the frogs]

So she's on board with Trump? 

She is a well-dressed woman.

 

[CallumWK]

28 minutes ago, FlorC said:

^ I knew that.

Still he chose Meloni , not Ursula.

 

Ursula never offered to talk with bully boy Trump, she sent the  EU's top trade official Maros Sefcovic for that, because that's his job.

Meloni acts on her own initiative, because the EU didn't send her, but ALLOWED for the talks, as they know as a good-looking gal she makes a chance with know sexist Trump. Hope she doesn't get raped.

[candide]

51 minutes ago, FlorC said:

Love it that he ignores Ursula von der Leyen. (for now at least)

Love it that Trump hopelessly tries to ignore that she is the only interlocutor (or the EU trade Commissioner) for a trade deal, and that he cannot negotiate with individual Member States. 

[Yagoda]

14 minutes ago, Tug said:

Uoooo a new one hatespew lol 😂 ask any psychiatrist how to manipulate a malignant narcissist hummm???unfortunatly my country is in the grips of one rite now.

Translation: I have no facts.

[Tug]

32 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Translation: I have no facts.

Unfortunately it is true trump is a malignant narcissist I would refer you to psychiatrist who are qualified on how to handle people with this particular mental illness putin Kim and apparently the Meloni lady have it’s a smart move on her part no more no less.unfortunately trump is what he is.

[Patong2021]

Trump is fawning over  a country that has not respected his request to increase defense funding,and that has a  large trade deficit with the USA. And yet he insults Australia which will spend a higher percentage of its GDP on defense than Italy and where the USA has a trade surplus.