Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni traveled to Florida on Saturday to meet with President-elect Donald Trump, aiming to strengthen diplomatic ties ahead of his January 20 inauguration.
Her visit marks an important step in solidifying Italy’s relationship with the incoming U.S. administration.
Meloni received a warm welcome from members of Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, who applauded as she was introduced by Trump. Videos of the scene, shared on social media by journalists and attendees, captured the moment.
The meeting occurred just days before Meloni is scheduled to host U.S. President Joe Biden in Rome during his visit from Thursday through January 12. Trump, having defeated Biden in the November election, is preparing to assume office once more.
While official details of the private discussions have not been released, reports in Italian media suggested that Meloni intended to address several pressing topics, including Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, trade relations, the situation in the Middle East, and the case of an Italian journalist detained in Iran. When contacted, Meloni’s office declined to provide further information.
Meloni’s conservative stance and her leadership of a stable right-wing coalition in Italy make her a natural ally for Trump. She has also cultivated strong ties with Elon Musk, a prominent tech billionaire and close supporter of Trump, who contributed over $250 million to Trump’s election campaign.
“This is very exciting. I’m here with a fantastic woman, the Prime Minister of Italy,” Trump said, addressing attendees at Mar-a-Lago, according to a pool report. “She’s really making waves in Europe.”
Following their formal meeting, Trump and Meloni attended a private screening of a documentary that scrutinizes legal investigations involving John Eastman, a former Trump attorney pivotal in Trump’s failed attempt to overturn the 2020 election results.
One of Meloni’s most urgent concerns is the arrest of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, who was detained in Iran on December 19. Sala’s detention occurred just days after Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini was arrested at Milan’s Malpensa Airport on a U.S. warrant. Abedini is accused of supplying drone components allegedly used in a 2023 attack that killed three U.S. service members in Jordan—an accusation Iran denies.
In response to Abedini’s arrest, Iran summoned Italy’s ambassador on Friday, as reported by Iranian state media.
Meloni’s visit to Trump is part of a series of high-profile meetings he has conducted at Mar-a-Lago since the November 5 election. Other world leaders who have visited include Argentinian President Javier Milei, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.