PALM BEACH, Fla. — US President-elect Donald Trump hosted Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at his Mar-a-Lago club on Saturday, marking another high-profile meeting as Trump continues his transition activities ahead of his January inauguration.
Meloni's visit follows recent meetings between Trump and world leaders, including Argentine President Javier Milei, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, all of whom traveled to Florida to engage with the president-elect.
During the evening, Trump and Meloni attended a screening of a documentary highlighting challenges faced by conservative lawyers in the legal system.
Trump, who entered the grand ballroom around 7 p.m. and returned after dinner, praised Meloni: "I’m here with a fantastic woman, the prime minister of Italy. She’s really taken Europe by storm, and everyone else, and we’re just having dinner tonight."
The screening was also attended by key figures in Trump’s incoming administration, including Florida Senator Marco Rubio, his pick for secretary of state, Representative Mike Waltz, his choice for national security adviser, and Scott Bessent, his nominee for treasury secretary.
Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is preparing to travel to Rome to meet with Meloni and Pope Francis later this week.
The White House said Biden's meeting with Meloni will "highlight the strength of the U.S.-Italy relationship" and include thanks for her leadership of the G7 over the past year. — Agencies