Trump Hosts Italian PM Giorgia Meloni, Praises Her as a "Fantastic Woman"

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made an unofficial visit to former U.S. President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence on Saturday, adding to the list of foreign leaders engaging with the President-elect ahead of his second inauguration on January 20.

Photos released by Meloni’s office Sunday morning show the Italian leader alongside Trump at the Mar-a-Lago entrance and later chatting in a reception room adorned with Christmas decorations.

During the visit, Trump described Meloni as “a fantastic woman,” adding, “She’s really taken Europe by storm, and everyone else, and we’re just having dinner tonight.”

The two reportedly dined together and watched the documentary The Eastman Dilemma: Lawfare or Justice, which focuses on a lawyer charged for attempting to overturn the 2020 U.S. election results in Trump’s favor.

Meloni, leader of the far-right Brothers of Italy party, has been a prominent figure in Europe, gaining significant attention for her conservative policies. Her meeting with Trump follows visits from other global leaders, including Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán.

Trump’s economic policies, particularly his promise to introduce steep import tariffs, have raised concerns among European allies, who are bracing for potential disruptions to trade relations.

Meanwhile, Elon Musk, a close advisor to Trump, has sparked controversy in Europe with his critical comments about the German and UK governments, as well as his support for Germany’s far-right AfD party. These remarks have been met with sharp rebukes, including one from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who called Musk’s rhetoric “erratic.”

Meloni’s visit comes just ahead of a planned four-day trip to Rome by outgoing U.S. President Joe Biden, who is expected to meet with Meloni and Pope Francis.

Neither Trump’s office nor Meloni’s team responded to media inquiries about the visit.