Italian PM Meloni in Surprise Visit to Meet President-elect Trump Tonight at Mar-a-Lago

Jan 4, 2025, 08:22 PM

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is flying to the United States for a surprise meeting with President-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago Club this evening. The meeting, scheduled for 7:30 pm Eastern Time, was not publicly announced, and media have not been briefed. Reports indicate that Foreign Minister Tajani was not informed about the trip. Meloni becomes the second European leader to visit Trump after Hungary's Viktor Orbán. While the agenda remains undisclosed, there is speculation that discussions may include the case of Cecilia Sala, an Italian journalist detained in Iran, as well as topics such as trade tariffs, the Ukraine conflict, and the crisis in the Middle East. The visit underscores the importance of the relationship between Italy and the incoming U.S. administration.