Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni made a surprise trip to Florida on Saturday (January 4) to meet with former President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, ahead of his inauguration on January 20. The unannounced visit underscores Meloni’s efforts to strengthen ties between Italy and the United States, particularly with the incoming president.
Upon arrival, Meloni was greeted warmly by Mar-a-Lago attendees who applauded after being introduced to Trump, Reuters reported. The president-elect praised Meloni as a “wonderful woman” with “entitlement,” the report said. Europe was taken by storm, echoing Tommaso Foti, Italy’s EU and Regional Affairs Minister, who noted the importance of Italy’s diplomatic role as a bridge between Europe and the United States, according to the report.
The report suggested that while details of their discussion remain undisclosed, Meloni and Trump’s program focused on a range of global issues, including Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, trade relations, Middle East geopolitics and the case of an Italian journalist detained in Tehran.
Meloni, who faces challenges related to the detention of journalist Cecilia Sala in Iran, is working to secure her release. Sala was arrested in December 2024, days after Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini was arrested in Italy on charges related to a drone attack that killed three US service members in Jordan.
In addition to their diplomatic talks, Meloni and Trump watched a screening of a documentary questioning the legal challenges facing John Eastman, Trump’s former lawyer involved in efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 US presidential election.
Meloni’s visit follows a series of meetings Trump has held with foreign leaders, including Argentine President Javier Milei, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, since his loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 election.
With her conservative political leanings, Meloni is seen as a key Trump ally, and her meeting with him strengthens the growing relationship between the two leaders.
Meloni is scheduled to meet US President Joe Biden later this week during her official visit to Rome, which runs from Thursday (January 9) to January 12.
As Trump prepares for his second term, Meloni’s surprise visit to Florida shows her commitment to strengthening Italy’s relationship with the United States under Donald Trump.
