Is Meloni ideologically aligned with Trump?

In his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni the president indicated that reaching agreement with the European Union and other parties should prove easy. The revenue produced by his tariffs makes President Donald Trump unpressured to engage in trade negotiations at this time. During an interview the president described an agreement as something that will develop eventually but not soon.

According to his administration there are competing bids from overseas countries and they predict the completion of 90 deals throughout the 90-day tariff freeze period.

“We're in no rush,” said Trump, hinting that he has leverage because other countries want access to U.S. consumers.

“We know we are in a difficult moment," Meloni said this week in Rome. "Most certainly, I am well aware of what I represent, and what I am defending."

The political alignment between Donald Trump and Giorgia Meloni rests on three major points including immigration limits and traditional value defense and opposition to multilateral institutions. Meloni stands firmly with Ukraine post-2022 Russian invasion yet Trump maintained opposition to Ukrainian support which constitutes a major distinction. Leaders from both nations expect to discuss Ukraine's present crisis and Italian potential support for future Ukrainian restoration. The Italian defense budget currently sits at 1.49 percent of GDP but Trump may try to push Meloni to raise it beyond the NATO minimum of 2 percent. U.S. officials view Meloni as an essential player among European allies despite existing disputes between them because of strained transatlantic relations.

“She has been very cautious,’’ said Wolfango Piccoli, an analyst at the London-based Teneo consultancy.

Due to strong demand from the United States for Italian sparkling wine and gourmet foods and luxury fashion products Italy maintains a €40 billion ($45 billion) surplus in its trade balance with America.