President-elect Trump is hosting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at Mar-a-Lago this weekend, signaling that he plans to develop a warmer relationship with one of his closest ideological allies in Europe.
Trump praised Meloni 47, accused of “invading Europe” during a dinner party on Saturday night. Meloni was elected in 2022 after running on a conservative, pro-family, anti-immigration agenda, which many in the media described as “far-right.”
Meloni is Italy's first female prime minister, and has served as leader of the Brothers of Italy party since 2014. She and her party have soared in popularity thanks to a backlash against the Italian government's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Meloni's coalition government is likely to be Trump's closest ideological ally within 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.
Congo begins exporting liquefied natural gas at the initiative of an Italian company
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. (Photo by Massimo Vallecchia/Noor via Getty Images)
Like the United States, Italy faces a major problem with illegal immigration as migrants cross the Mediterranean Sea to its shores. Meloni's “return centres” policy ensures that migrants are not released to Italy during the asylum process, a program she says has become a “model” for Europe.
“It is a new, brave and unprecedented path, but it fully reflects the European spirit,” she said of the program in October.
Meloni has also proven to go against the grain on social issues, moving last year to limit parental rights for same-sex couples. This policy ensures that only the biological parent of a child in a same-sex marriage has full parental rights.
Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla Inc and CEO of X, speaks at the Atreju political conference organized by Fratelli d'Italia (Brothers of Italy), on December 15, 2023, in Rome, Italy. The right-wing political party led by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni organized a four-day political festival in the Italian capital. (Antonio Masiello/Getty Images)
Meloni coalition The government also proved unusually stable compared to Italy's recent history. She has avoided infighting within her party and the failure of opposition leaders to rally around any candidate to effectively challenge her.
All of this puts Meloni in a natural position to act as a mediator between the Trump administration and the European Union over the next four years.
Giorgia Meloni made a surprise appearance at Trump's Mar-a-Lago residence this weekend. (Kevin Deitch/Getty Images)
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., Trump's nominee for secretary of state, was also present when Meloni visited Trump's Florida residence this weekend.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
President Biden He is scheduled to travel later this week to Rome to meet with Meloni and then Pope Francis. The White House said that Biden's meeting with Meloni “will highlight the strength of the relationship between the United States and Italy” and will include the president thanking the prime minister “for her strong leadership of the G7 over the past year.”
