2. Tom Joyner
3. Live reporter
4. Image source, Reuters
5. From the moment she arrived at the White House, Giorgia Meloni was warmly welcomed. Trump called her a “great prime minister” and said she had “taken Europe by storm”.
6. Meloni’s visit to Washington today had been eagerly awaited. After months of a trade standoff between the US and the European Union, Meloni was seen as a “Trump whisperer” who Brussels hoped could help ease tensions.
7. Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump was full of praise for his Italian counterpart – and Meloni seemed to say all the right things, as our Europe reporter Laura Gozzi notes.
8. There was no announcement of a trade deal, but both leaders sounded optimistic. Trump also accepted Meloni’s invitation to Rome, though we don’t know when that will happen.
9. Meloni is now heading back to Italy for talks with US Vice-President JD Vance tomorrow. They could continue the discussions on tariffs, defence spending, and perhaps ways to “make the West great again”.
10. We’re wrapping up our live coverage for now – Meanwhile, you can read about today’s talk in our full coverage here.
13. Image source, Reuters
14. Image caption,
15. Giorgia Meloni attends a ceremony marking the 163rd anniversary of the Italian army in 2024
16. As we’ve reported, Trump and Meloni have discussed Italy’s defence spending.
17. This ties into a key complaint from Trump – that America’s Nato allies in Europe aren’t doing enough, external compared to the US.
18. Nato, as a military alliance, expects its members to invest in their own armed forces, since it has no troops of its own.
19. A decade ago, members agreed to spend 2% of their GDP on defence by 2024.
20. Since then, some countries have increased their military spending, but Trump says it’s still not enough.
21. Italy has often spent less than its commitment. Last year, its spending was among the lowest in the alliance.
22. This year, Italy says it will increase its defence budget.
25. Image source, Getty Images
26. After today’s meeting with the US president, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is scheduled to fly back to Rome for a meeting with US Vice-President JD Vance on Friday.
27. The second family will be in Italy from the 18-21, before flying to India.
28. Vance, a Catholic, is also expected to visit the secretary of state for the Vatican City, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, during his trip to Italy, which coincides with Easter Sunday.
29. The BBC’s US partner, CBS News, reports that Vance is not expected to take part in negotiations about Iran’s nuclear programme – being led by US envoy Steve Witkoff – which will also take place in Rome this weekend.
32. Image source, Getty Images
33. Nicola Procaccini, Member of the European Parliament with Meloni’s Brothers of Italy Party, says he believes it was a “good meeting” between the Italian prime minister and Trump at the White House, although he underlines it is “only the first step”.
34. “The main goal is strength and the alliance between the US and the EU,” he tells The Context on the BBC News channel.
35. He adds that the final goal would be a “zero tariff agreement” but adds that it is “not easy”.
38. While taking questions earlier, Trump and US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent briefly touched on the Ukraine minerals deal. Bessent told reporters that while they are still working on the details, the deal will likely be signed next week.
39. Here is what we know about it so far:
40. According to an initial version, the deal would involve starting an “investment fund” for the country’s reconstruction.
41. Ukraine would contribute 50% of future proceeds from state-owned mineral resources, oil and gas to the fund, which will then be invested “to promote the safety, security and prosperity of Ukraine”.
42. The US will own much of the fund and invest in rebuilding the country.
43. It was supposed to be signed when President Zelensky visited the White House in February.
44. After a conflict-filled meeting with between the two leaders that ended in Zelensky being told to leave, the signing was tabled.
45. After the US cut off aid to Ukraine, Zelensky posted to social media saying he was ready to sign it at any time.
48. Bernd Debusmann Jr
49. Reporting from the White House
50. We’ve just wrapped up a long question-and-answer session in the Oval Office – one that, for the most part, did not particularly focus on the US-Italy relationship or even the European Union.
51. The pool of reporters that was inside the room is now outside, filing stories into their laptops or outside doing live hits on TV.
52. While Trump was bullish about tariffs – insisted that his policy is bringing countries to the negotiating table – we heard very little about any US-EU trade deal, or any details about what that might look like. Trump expressed vague optimism about that.
53. Instead, both leaders seemed to be steering the topics to ones they agree on – such as immigration.
54. Similarly, we also heard that Meloni and Trump discussed defence spending, but not much more than that.
55. The devil, however, is in the details. Both leaders have now moved onto an expanded bilateral meeting that will include other officials. This closed-door meeting is likely where the granular details of their relationship will be discussed.
56. While Meloni is scheduled to leave afterwards, we may hear from Trump again later this afternoon when he signs executive orders.
57. At the moment, that event – at 1600 EST (20:00GMT) – is closed to the press. But often, they open up at short notice.
60. Image source, Getty Images
61. As we’ve seen, the news conference has jumped around a bit.
62. Now we’re back to the mineral deal with Ukraine.
63. When asked where the deal will be signed, Trump hands over to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
64. They’re still working on the details, Bessent says.
65. “It’s substantially what we agreed previously,” he says.
66. And with that, the question-and-answer session comes to an end.
69. Trump has spoken about China already, and he’s come back to that topic again.
70. Talking about his tariffs on the country since his first term in office in 2017, he says: “No other president took in 10 cents, I took in more than $700bn (£528bn) from China.”
71. He says that the US is doing well and says he is building a country like no other.
74. Trump says he hopes Europe will be “great again” and blames many of its problems on immigration.
75. He praises Meloni for taking a tough stance on immigration, saying he wishes more people were like her.
76. Meloni says change is happening, thanks to the example set by Italy.
77. “I’m optimistic,” she said.
80. Meloni is asked about defence spending and Trump’s earlier comments suggesting he holds Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responsible for Russia’s war in Ukraine.
81. She says she and Trump discussed the importance of defence spending during their meeting.
82. Trump says he does not hold Zelensky responsible.
83. He adds that the war would not have started if he had been president in 2022.
84. “I’m not happy with him,” Trump says. “I’m not blaming him, but what I am saying is that I wouldn’t say he’s done the greatest job.”
87. Back to tariffs now, Trump says the US has taken in “tremendous amounts of money” from them.
88. He claims countries can’t take advantage of the US anymore because, “we have a real president”.
89. He finishes by saying if countries don’t come to the table to make a deal, “we’ll make the deal for them”.
92. Image source, Reuters
93. A reporter asks Trump if Italy should join a European peace mission in Ukraine.
94. Trump says Italy will need to make that decision, but adds: “Peace missions are always ok with me.”
97. Laura Gozzi
98. Europe reporter
99. Image source, Reuters
100. By the looks of it, the atmosphere in the Oval Office is quite relaxed and good-natured.
101. In her statement at the start of the Q&A, Meloni is clearly pushing all the right buttons – telling Trump that her goal is “to make the west great again”, criticising “woke ideology” and championing the “war against illegal migration”.
102. She also seizes the chance to tout the work of her government.
103. She has been prime minister since late 2022.
104. “I’m proud of sitting here as prime minister of an Italy that today has a very good situation – a stable country, a reliable country,” Meloni says.
105. She touts her successes adding jobs and bringing inflation down, before gesturing towards Trump and adding with a broad smile: “Forgive me if I promote my country, but you’re a businessman and you understand me”. Trump grins back.
108. When asked about a potential minerals deal with Ukraine, Trump confirms there is an agreement and says it will be signed next Thursday (24 April).

• You can catch up on the mineral deal here

1. Media caption,
2. Trump to sign a mineral deal with Ukraine
5. Bernd Debusmann Jr
6. Reporting from the White House
7. Image source, Reuters
8. Watching the question-and-answer session at the White House, it’s clear other concerns have overshadowed the US-Italy relationship at this event.
9. Most of the questions so far have focused on different issues, from Ukraine to immigration, the Middle East, and tariffs. Not a single question has gone to Meloni.
10. The people sitting on the nearby sofa, however, starkly highlight some of the administration’s key foreign policy priorities.
11. Along with Vice PresidentJD Vance, who will soon head to Rome, there’s Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who has become the administration’s main person on tariffs.
12. Next to him is Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth. Before the meeting, US officials made it clear they would ask Italy to spend more on defence.
13. Italy, of course, also hosts US bases.
16. Image source, White House
17. Speaking about the partnership between the US and Italy, Meloni touches on the war in Ukraine.
18. “Together we have been defending the freedom of Ukraine, together we can bring lasting peace,” she says.
19. She then hands over to Trump, who says he feels his administration is “doing well” and that Meloni has been helpful.
20. A reporter asks Trump how long Putin has to respond to the ceasefire proposal before the US imposes sanctions.
21. Trump says he will be hearing from Russia this week and wants the killing to stop.
24. Meloni goes on to say the goal for Europe and the US is to “make the West great again”.
25. She says Trump has accepted an official visit to Rome, which she mentioned earlier.
26. Meloni also says Trump’s visit isn’t just about Italy, but about all of Europe.
27. “I know when I speak about West mainly, I don’t speak about geographical space. I speak about a civilisation, and I want to make that civilisation stronger,” she adds.
30. Meloni starts by saying she and Trump share the “fight against ‘woke’ and DEI (diversity, equity and inclusion) ideology that would like to erase our history”.
31. Trump nods and agrees with the Italian prime minister.
32. She says they can work on tackling many issues together.

• Learn more about Trump’s attack on DEI here

3. Image source, White House
4. US President Donald Trump and Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni are now speaking to the press in the Oval Office and answering questions.
5. We’ll bring you all the latest updates, so stay with us.
8. Bernd Debusmann Jr
9. Reporting from the White House
10. Image source, Bernd Debusmann Jr/BBC News
11. I’ve just arrived in the White House’s Brady Briefing Room, where a crowd of reporters – both from Washington’s in-town press “pool” and the visiting delegation – have taken over the platform where Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt usually gives her briefings.
12. It’s busier than usual in here.
13. Travelling press pools from other countries can vary in size, but the Italian one looks quite large. It’ll be a bit of a squeeze once they all get into the relatively tight space of the Oval Office, where Italian and US officials will also be.
14. We’re likely to hear more from both leaders during this Oval Office “spray”.
15. Similar events have sometimes lasted 45 minutes to an hour.

Page 2

1. 
2. John Sudworth
3. North America Correspondent
4. Georgia Meloni has come to Washington carrying the hopes – and fears – of her European counterparts.
5. The cause for optimism was on display from the moment of her arrival, with these words from President Trump: The chemistry with Trump has been much talked about and, for an EU reeling from Trump’s blizzard of tariffs, that is Meloni’s biggest asset – her ability to speak the Trumpian language of a populist conservative leader with an anti-globalist, tough-on-immigration agenda.
6. But that very same dynamic is fuelling concerns in Brussels too.
7. For President Trump, diplomacy is all about personal relationships and the worry is that he could use the Italian PM to undermine European unity, a concept he has deep disdain for.
8. The EU, he claimed recently, was formed to rip off the United States.
9. Meloni will be on tricky ground in terms of Italy’s own trade gap with America, a deficit built on Parmesan and Prosecco, among other products, of some $45bn, one of the largest among the trading bloc.
10. Her mission though is not to negotiate the detail of trade policy – that is for the EU Commission – but rather to set the mood.
11. But as she sat down with the US president, she seemed to acknowledge there may be discussions ahead.
12. If there is going to be any tough talk – over America’s approach to the Ukraine war for example – expect it to take place well out of sight of the TV cameras.
15. Image source, Reuters
16. Giorgia Meloni is the first European leader to meet Donald Trump since he imposed 20% tariffs on the European Union earlier this month, in response to the EU’s 25% rate on US goods.
17. Both sides have now suspended the tariffs for 90 days.
18. About 10% of Italy’s exports – worth about €67bn (£57bn; $76bn) – go to the US.
19. Meloni said she was “aware of what I represent and of what I am defending” ahead of the meeting, in which she is expected to try to convince Trump of the merits of a “zero-for-zero” tariffs deal with the EU.
20. Some in Europe hope Meloni’s close relationship with Trump could help her case. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who hasn’t spoken to Trump since his return, has discussed the meeting with Meloni.
21. But some warn the meeting could undermine European unity, with French Industry Minister Marc Ferracci warning that Trump’s strategy with “bilateral talks” was to “divide Europeans”.
22. Italy objected to his comments, which were later toned down by a French government spokesperson.
25. Image source, EPA
26. Trump and Meloni are now heading to lunch before going into their private meeting inside the White House.
27. Here’s a quick summary of what just happened in the public part of their meeting:

• The two seem to be on good terms. Trump greeted Meloni warmly, calling her a “great prime minister” and mentioning their long friendship
• Meloni says she’s confident she can strike a deal with Trump on tariffs
• Trump boasts he’ll have “very little problem making a deal with Europe” because he has “something that everybody wants”
• Meloni says she wants Trump to visit Italy and meet EU leaders
• Trump also mentions China, saying he’s going to make a very good deal with them

3. Wrapping up the public part of his meeting with Meloni, Trump says: “We’re going to have very little problem making a deal with Europe or anybody else because we have something that everybody wants.
4. “You know what that means? We’re going to have very little problem.”
5. Reporters are then ushered out of the room as private talks between Trump, Meloni and their delegations in Washington begin.
8. Image source, Reuters
9. When asked if the EU will resume retaliatory tariffs if no agreement is reached, Meloni says she’s confident there will be a deal between the US and Europe.
10. She adds that her goal for this visit is to work towards that and to invite Trump to Italy, where she hopes to organise a meeting between Trump and Europe.
11. “I think the best way is that we simply speak frankly about the needs that every one of us has, and find ourselves in the middle,” she says.
14. Image source, EPA
15. When asked if the US should be worried about its allies getting closer to China, Trump simply replies: “No.”
16. “Nobody can compete with us,” he adds. “I think we are going to make a very good deal with China.”
19. Giorgia Meloni is now answering a reporter’s question.
20. She says she’s confident she can reach an agreement with Donald Trump.
21. “I’m sure we can make a deal. I’m here to help with that,” she says.
22. “I think the best way is that we simply speak frankly.”
23. Meloni adds that she’s in Washington to find a way to make both the US and Italy “stronger”.
24. Media caption,
25. ‘I think we can make a deal,’ says Italian Prime Minister
28. More from Trump ahead of the meeting.
29. He says he likes Meloni “very much”.
30. “I think she’s a great prime minister. I think she’s doing a fantastic job,” he says, adding he’s known her “right from the beginning” as prime minister.
31. “She’s one of the real leaders of the world,” he says.
34. Image source, Reuters
35. We’re now hearing from members of the press as they ask questions to US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni before their meeting.
36. When asked why she’s in Washington, Meloni says she believes in “West unity”.
37. Trump then says Meloni “believes in the president”, which she agrees with, and adds: “We need to grow together, that’s why I’m here.”
38. Trump goes on to say the US and Italy have a very good relationship, before confirming: “There will be a trade deal, 100%,” he says, “but it will be a fair deal”.
41. US President Donald Trump is now greeting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as she arrives at the White House.
42. Stay with us as we bring you the key moments from their meeting.
43. Media caption,
44. Italy’s Prime Minister arrives at the White House
47. Image source, Reuters
48. As we’ve been saying, Meloni and Trump are generally thought of as being on good terms.
49. But tariff policy is set EU-wide, and Trump’s relationship with the bloc is broadly viewed as much less favourable.
50. Meloni has previously described the US tariffs as “wrong”, but said she would work towards a deal to “prevent a trade war”.
51. Speaking in Rome on Tuesday, addressing Italian entrepreneurs and business leaders – who stand to lose from Trump’s tariff – she looked ahead to her Washington trip and chuckled nervously.
52. “As you can imagine, I’m feeling no pressure at all,” she joked.
55. Image source, Reuters
56. Ahead of his meeting with Giorgia Meloni later today, Donald Trump has shared an update about his recent talks with foreign officials after tariffs were imposed on imports.
57. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump says he had “a very productive call” with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum yesterday.
58. He also touts a “very productive meeting” with “the highest level” trade representatives from Japan on Wednesday.
59. “Every Nation, including China, wants to meet! Today, Italy!” he says.
61. 
62. Nomia Iqbal
63. North America correspondent
64. Image source, Getty Images
65. This is arguably the most significant meeting Trump has as far as Europe is concerned.
66. Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is the first European leader to meet Trump since he announced tariffs on European imports. However, she is uniquely placed when it comes to Trump – he is a big fan of hers and she was the only European leader at his inauguration.
67. As a result, Meloni has earned the moniker “the Trump whisperer.” She’s also good friends with Elon Musk.
68. But whilst the Italian premier may have ties with Italy’s far right, Meloni has also proven to be very collaborative with Europe since entering office. EU leaders will therefore be hoping she is the one who will push Trump towards a trade deal and avoid a big tariff war.
69. That rapport with the president and her collaborative diplomacy with Europe will be hugely tested today – can she strike a balance that pleases both sides?
72. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is now in Washington DC ahead of her meeting with Donald Trump.
73. We’ll be following this meeting closely, so stay with us.
74. Image source, EBU
77. In a sign of the closer relationship between Meloni and Trump, the Italian prime minister was the only EU leader to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration earlier this year.
78. Here she is pictured in the rotunda of the US Capitol on 20 January, alongside Argentina’s President Javier Milei and China’s Vice-President Han Zheng.
79. Image source, Reuters
80. Image caption,
81. Giorgia Meloni and Javier Milei share a laugh together in the rotunda
82. Image source, EPA
83. Image caption,
84. Giorgia Meloni, Javier Milei and Han Zheng stand in a line in the rotunda
87. The meeting between Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni has been delayed by an hour, to 13:00 EDT (18:00 BST), according to Italian media.
88. The Italian prime minister was originally expected to arrive at the West Wing of the White House at 12:00 EDT (17:00 BST).
91. 
92. Riccardo Alcaro, of the Italian Institute for International Affairs in Rome, says Meloni’s position has always been that Europe shouldn’t take any decisions that put it on a collision course with the US.
93. Her view is that “Europe should adapt rather than resist”, he says.
94. “If the Trump administration is immovable on tariffs, she’ll agree to counter tariffs,” he says, “but her first move is always to say ‘no’. Because ultimately she thinks the importance of the West in the world is thanks to the US, and that the West revolves around the US.”
95. Meloni “knows that Italy is strategically, politically and economically subordinate to the EU”, he adds, but “she also has a genuine proximity to Maga Republicans”.
98. Bernd Debusmann Jr
99. Reporting from Washington DC
100. During the briefing call with reporters this morning, a senior administration official wouldn’t comment on the chances of a US-EU trade deal happening soon after today’s meeting.
101. He explained that the meeting was planned “long before” tariffs were introduced.
102. The official said the Trump administration wants to “advance the ball and get into a dialogue”.
103. He also believes Italy has a key role in the Europe-Middle East-India trade corridor, and said the White House sees Italy as an “important” market for US products.
104. Trump, he added, “won’t simply focus on how Italy’s marketplace can be opened up, but how they can help us with the rest of Europe”.
107. Bernd Debusmann Jr
108. Reporting from Washington DC
109. Greetings from Washington DC, where it’s sunny but colder than usual ahead of Giorgia Meloni’s visit to the White House.
110. I’ll be heading to the White House later, but just a short while ago I joined a briefing call with senior administration officials about today’s agenda.
111. One thing was clear: the US President will press the point that Italy needs to spend more on defence – a key demand for Nato allies from the Trump administration.
112. “Certainly, that will come up,” one official said. “There are eight countries that aren’t meeting their 2% threshold. Italy is unfortunately one of them.”
113. Italy currently spends about 1.49% of its GDP on defence, well below what the official described as a “much needed” threshold.
114. The US has repeatedly urged Nato allies to up their military spending, particularly in recent months as the administration seeks an “America First” approach to foreign policy.
115. Image source, Getty Images
118. The US president has strongly criticised the EU on trade, claiming it was “formed to screw the United States”.
119. Meanwhile, the EU says there is no justification for the US raising tariffs, but that it is open to negotiations.
120. Here’s a look at how tariffs have escalated in recent weeks:

• The US imposed 25% tariffs on all foreign steel and aluminium imports, including from the EU
• Trump then brought in a 10% tariff on almost all foreign imports to the US – including those from the EU – on 5 April, although some categories of goods are exempt
• He also introduced a 25% tariff on car exports, which again was not EU-specific but will also impact the bloc
• The EU was one of the trading partners he threatened with “retaliatory” tariffs, which would have seen the general tariff on most EU goods raised to 20% – but Trump then announced a 90-day pause, meaning the tariff on most EU imports remains at 10% until July
• The EU had approved retaliatory 25% tariffs on a range of US goods in response to Trump’s initial metals tariffs, but it also put the implementation on hold for 90 days to mirror Trump’s pause, saying it wants to negotiate

Page 3

Laura Gozzi

Europe reporter

At this fraught moment, Giorgia Meloni is perhaps one of the best-placed current European leaders to speak to Trump.

European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen recognises that and they have been speaking regularly ahead of the trip.

Trump and Meloni famously enjoy a good relationship and have lavished praise on one another in the past. He has called her a “fantastic woman” who has “really taken Europe by storm”.

For her part, Meloni – who has headed a right-wing coalition government since 2022 – is ideologically closer to Trump than to some of her European neighbours.

In a video message to a US conservative conference in February, she echoed some of Trump’s common talking points, railing against mass migration, “globalist elites” and “woke ideology”.

She was also the only European leader to attend the US president’s inauguration in January, and has steered clear of overtly criticising the work of his administration since.

The harshest criticism she has dispensed was earlier this month, when she said Trump’s decision to impose 20% tariffs on the EU was “absolutely wrong” and would end up damaging the EU “as much as the US”.