Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will meet U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House on April 17. This visit comes just days after Trump announced new 20% tariffs on European Union (EU) goods.
Meloni is seen as a strong connection between the U.S. and the EU, especially since she has a friendly relationship with Trump and his team. She will be the first European leader to meet Trump after the new tariffs were announced, making this meeting very important.
Tough Balancing Act
Meloni’s task won’t be easy. On one hand, she needs to keep good relations with Trump. On the other, she must defend Italy’s economy and try to reduce the impact of the tariffs.
Her government has already started making efforts. Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said on Tuesday that Italy should buy more gas from the U.S. and invest more in the American market — something Trump has been pushing for.
Looking for More Than Just a Safe Meeting
Meloni hopes to achieve more than just a smooth meeting. She wants to convince Trump to change his position on tariffs, which could hurt Italy’s economy. While she may get along well with Trump, that doesn’t guarantee success.
Polls in Italy show that 63% of Italians don’t like Trump, so Meloni will need to bring back real results to gain support at home.
Past Shows It’s Not Easy
Even close allies of Trump, like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have struggled to get him to change trade policies. During his recent visit, Netanyahu had to agree to reduce Israel’s trade deficit with the U.S., but Trump didn’t offer anything in return.
Meloni’s meeting next week will show if her good relationship with Trump can help soften the blow of the new tariffs — or if, like others before her, she leaves with little to show.
