Italy's Meloni Looks for a Method to the Tariff Madness
Flattery and firmness during the Italian premier’s trip to Washington may be key to finding out what the US president really wants.
Giorgia Meloni was in Washington was for Donald Trump’s inauguration in January. Here she is with fellow right-wing hero Argentine President Javier Milei.
Photographer: Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images North America“No se pol” – it can’t be done. The defeatist catchphrase of Trieste, the historic maritime crossroads between East and West, would seem to apply to Italian leader Giorgia Meloni’s fading hopes of bridging the transatlantic gap during her visit to Washington this week.
Europe and America have never looked more adrift amid the trade chaos, and Meloni’s cozying up to Donald Trump and his entourage never more precarious. Her CPAC-friendly rhetoric, her courting of Elon Musk’s Starlink and her relative moderation in the face of US tariffs have put her at odds with European public opinion. Trump may think Meloni is “fantastic,” but he hasn’t hesitated in slapping Italy and its neighbors with tariffs on metals and autos — and potentially all goods in fewer than 90 days. US exports represent about 3% of Italy’s gross domestic product, according to Bloomberg Economics; Stellantis NV, the automotive group forged from Fiat and Peugeot, which includes the Jeep brand, has shed almost 40% of its value this year.