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President-elect Trump is hosting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Mar-a-Lago this weekend, suggesting he plans to develop a warmer relationship with one of his closest ideological allies in Europe.
Trump praised Meloni, 47, for “taking Europe by storm” during a Saturday night dinner. Meloni was elected in 2022 after running on a conservative pro-family, anti-immigration agenda, described as “far-right” by many in the media.
Meloni is Italy’s first female prime minister and has been the leader of the Brothers of Italy party since 2014. Both she and her party rose in popularity thanks to the backlash against the Italian government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meloni’s coalition government is probably the closest ideological ally Trump has in the European Union. Meloni has also developed a close relationship with top Trump ally Elon Musk, who has been frequenting Mar-a-Lago since Election Day.
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Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni addresses the media alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (not pictured) after their meeting at Villa Doria Pamphilj in Rome, Italy on October 10, 2024 . (Massimo Valicchia/Nur Photo via Getty Images)
Like the United States, Italy faces a major illegal immigration problem with migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea to its shores. Meloni’s “return center” policy ensures migrants are not released to Italy during their asylum process, a program she says has become a “model” for Europe.
“It’s a new, brave, unprecedented path, but it perfectly reflects the European spirit,” he said of the program in October.
Meloni has also proven to go against the grain on social issues, as he limited the parental rights of same-sex couples last year. The policy ensures that only the biological parent of a child within a same-sex marriage enjoys full parental rights.
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Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Inc and CEO of X, speaks at the Atreju political convention organized by Fratelli d’Italia (Brothers of Italy) on December 15, 2023 in Rome, Italy. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s right-wing political party organized a four-day political festival in the Italian capital. (Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)
Meloni’s coalition The government has also proved unusually stable compared to Italy’s recent history. She has avoided infighting within her party and opposition leaders have failed to coalesce around any candidate to effectively challenge her.
All of this puts Meloni in a natural position to serve as a go-between for the Trump administration and the European Union over the next four years.
Giorgia Meloni made an unannounced appearance at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence this weekend. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, Trump’s nominee for secretary of state, was also present when Meloni visited Trump’s Florida residence this weekend.
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President Biden He will travel to Rome this week to meet with Meloni and then with Pope Francis. The White House said Biden’s meeting with Meloni “will highlight the strength of the US-Italy relationship” and will include the president thanking the prime minister “for her strong leadership of the G7 over the past year.”
