US President Donald Trump is hosting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday, a close ally who wants to take on the role of mediator between Washington and Europe amid tensions over US tariffs. The European Union, comprising 27 member states, faces tariffs of up to 25% on steel, aluminum and cars, as well as higher tariffs on almost all other products. These are part of Trump’s policy to target countries that he believes erect high barriers for US imports.
Meloni, a 48-year-old conservative, is the only EU leader who was invited to Trump’s inauguration in January last year. The US President had already called Meloni “a fantastic person” and “a great leader” last year. Trump’s decision to suspend most global tariffs for 90 days has somewhat eased the pressure on Meloni.
The meeting comes one day before Vice President J.D. Vance’s visit to Rome. These two conversations could be crucial in determining whether she can play a mediating role between the United States and Europe.
Meloni is walking a fine line between her ideological connection with the US President and her relationships with European allies, who have criticized Trump’s tariff hikes and his decision to exclude the EU from talks with Russia to end the war in Ukraine.
Meloni is under pressure at home to protect the export-oriented Italian economy, which achieved a trade surplus of 40 billion euros with the US last year. However, she must also defend the interests of all 27 EU nations.
French ministers have warned that the right-wing Italian Prime Minister could undermine the unity of the EU if she travels alone to Washington, but the European Commission, which is responsible for negotiating trade agreements, welcomed Meloni’s trip.