Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s surprise visit to Mar-a-Lago on Sunday set the stage for a second meeting with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
The visit highlighted the growing rapport between the two leaders, with Trump calling Meloni a “fantastic woman” who has “really taken Europe by storm.” Meanwhile, Meloni expressed her readiness to collaborate, posting on X about their “nice evening” and future cooperation.
This meeting follows their earlier encounter in December at the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris. As Germany and France face domestic political challenges, Meloni’s proactive outreach positions her as a key European ally for Trump’s incoming administration.
Her efforts could also shield Italy from potential economic fallout. Trump’s campaign promise to impose a 10% tariff on all imports to the U.S. threatens significant repercussions, especially for Italy, whose economy relies heavily on U.S. trade.
According, to Prometeia, such tariffs could cost the Italian economy up to $7 billion. Italy’s export exposure to the U.S. amounts to nearly 4% of its GDP.
Alongside her diplomatic overtures to Trump, Meloni has also forged connections with Tesla CEO Elon Musk.
Meloni’s U.S. visit marks a pivotal step in Italy’s trans-Atlantic diplomacy strategy.
She described Musk as a “genius” and a “great figure of our times” in an interview with Corriere della Sera, defending him against negative portrayals.
Bloomberg News reported advanced talks between Musk’s SpaceX and the Italian government on a $1.5 billion deal to provide secure internet services via Starlink satellites.
However, Meloni’s office denied that SpaceX was discussed during her meeting with Trump, emphasizing that any contact with SpaceX falls under routine state-business interactions.
As Italy faces a complex geopolitical landscape, Meloni’s outreach to Trump and Musk underscores her strategic approach to navigating potential economic and diplomatic challenges. These efforts could play a crucial role in securing Italy’s economic interests while solidifying its place as a significant trans-Atlantic partner.
