President Trump expressed optimism Thursday that the US and European Union can reach a trade deal as he welcomed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to the White House.
Meloni, 48, is the first European leader to meet with Trump, 78, since he announced last week that his “Liberation Day” suite of reciprocal tariffs would be paused for 90 days.
“I’m sure we can make a deal, and I am here to help with that,” Meloni, dressed in all-white, told Trump ahead of lunch in the Cabinet Room.
“I cannot lock this deal in the name of the European Union,” she added. “My goal would be to invite President Trump to pay an official visit to Italy and understand if there’s a possibility when it comes to organize also such a meeting with Europe.”
“There will be a trade deal, 100%,” Trump responded, “but it will be a fair deal”.
The White House views Meloni, a close ally of the administration, as the best path for the president to enter talks with the 27-member bloc on a so-called “bespoke” trade deal.
“President Trump will simply focus on how Italy’s marketplace can be opened up, but also how they can help us with the rest of Europe,” an administration official said Thursday morning.
“We certainly see her as a valuable interlocutor.”
Trump met Meloni on the sidelines of the Notre Dame cathedral reopening in Paris this past December — but the Thursday meeting will be first time they discuss policy in Washington.
In addition to trade, Trump and Meloni are expected to discuss defense, the reconstruction of Ukraine and possible cooperation in space and with critical technologies like AI.
Trump is also likely to raise the issue of European countries increasing their defense spending to meet the threat from Russia.
“Europe, as you know, is committed to do more, is working on tools to allow and help the [NATO] member states in increasing the defense spending. And we are convinced that everyone has to do more,” Meloni said Thursday in response to a reporter question.
The president will also pitch having Italy import more American energy, administration officials said.
“President Trump aims to unleash American energy exports to the rest of the world,” the told reporters. “So you should expect a discussion centered on Italy’s interest to fuel this effort.”
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