President-elect Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni dined collectively at Mar-a-Lago Saturday throughout a shock go to upfront of President Biden’s closing abroad journey to Italy Thursday,
Trump, 78, lavished reward on the conservative Italian chief and launched her to key incoming administration officers comparable to Secretary of State designee Marco Rubio.
“That is very thrilling,” Trump beamed as he walked by the grand ballroom at Mar-a-Lago.
“I’m right here with a implausible lady, the prime minister of Italy. She’s actually taken Europe by storm, and everybody else, and we’re simply having dinner tonight.”
The pair, together with a few of Trump’s administration, picks later screened a documentary decrying “lawfare” in opposition to Trump’s allies who tried to reverse the 2020 election outcomes.
The documentary, titled “The Eastman Dilemma: Lawfare or Justice” options insights from John Eastman, a conservative legal professional who hatched plans to problem Trump’s election loss and was later hit with an indictment in addition to a push for disbarment.
Trump and Meloni, 47, beforehand rubbed elbows throughout their go to to the reopening of the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris in December.
“I used to be along with her lots,” Trump beforehand advised The Put up about that journey to France. “She’s an actual reside wire, I’ll let you know. She’s nice.”
Meloni roared to energy in Italy in late 2022 and has shortly made a reputation for herself as one of many foremost conservative leaders in Europe. The Biden administration has additionally considered her as a key ally on Ukraine.
The Italian prime minister, who has spoken restricted English prior to now, didn’t handle the press throughout her trek to Mar-a-Lago.
After successful the presidency final yr, Trump has fielded a slew of world leaders who’ve come all the way down to Mar-a-Lago to fulfill with him forward of Inauguration Day.
To this point, he’s met with Argentina President Javier Milei, the primary main world chief to fulfill him at Mar-a-Lago since his victory; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who visited him after Trump issued a tariff menace; and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, who has lengthy been pleasant with him.
Along with her shock journey to Mar-a-Lago, Meloni is seemingly angling for Italy to turn out to be one of many prime European companions for the incoming Trump administration.
She has additionally fostered an in depth rapport with tech magnate Elon Musk, who’s now a prime Trump confidant.
Trump has at occasions clashed with European leaders and berated them for not paying extra of their justifiable share to NATO, amongst different grievances.
Neither aspect gave a major breakdown of the agenda throughout Meloni’s go to.
Trump has additionally run into an assortment of world leaders exterior of Mar-a-Lago since his election win, together with French President Emanuel Macron, whom he greeted with one other one among his muscular handshakes; and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The trio had met throughout the Notre Dame journey.
On Thursday, Biden is about to make his closing abroad journey as commander-in-chief throughout his forthcoming go to to Italy in addition to the Vatican from Jan. 9 to 12.
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