How Italy’s PM Meloni could bridge the gap between Trump and Europe.
Just a few years ago, the notion of Italy hosting one of Europe’s most stable governments would have seemed far-fetched. Italian coalition administrations historically averaged just over a year before collapsing, earning the country a reputation for political instability.
However, a combination of factors, including political turbulence in typically stable nations like France and Germany, and the soaring popularity of far-right Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s coalition government, in power since 2022, has shifted Italy’s standing. Now, under Donald Trump’s second presidency, Rome has emerged as a pivotal player in Europe’s relationship with the United States.
During his previous term, Trump referred to Europe as a “foe” of the U.S. This time, Meloni has the potential to redefine that dynamic, aided in part by their mutual ally, Elon Musk.
Last weekend, Trump, Meloni, and Musk attended a high-profile dinner hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron to mark the reopening of Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. The exclusive gathering included 60 prominent figures, and Trump later described the evening as a positive experience.
We got along great, Trump told The New York Post, noting that he and Meloni spent considerable time together. He described the diminutive leader—Meloni often jokes about her 5’ 2 height—as a live wire, expressing confidence in their ability to straighten out the world a little bit.
Despite their shared populist politics, Meloni and Trump diverge on certain global issues. For instance, Meloni has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine, meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky multiple times since Russia’s invasion. How much influence Meloni could wield over Trump’s foreign policy remains uncertain, but her position as Europe’s most stable leader might grant her a unique opportunity.
Before a new government is formed in Germany and given France’s current challenges, Italy will effectively have a monopoly on European stability when Trump returns to the White House, said Giovanni Orsina, director of the Department of Political Science at Luiss University in Rome, in an interview with CNN.
Meloni’s rapport with Musk further strengthens her position. The two developed a close friendship during the summer of 2023, with Musk even headlining Meloni’s Brothers of Italy political convention, Atreju, in December of that year.
Musk can act as a bridge between Meloni and Trump, as long as the Trump-Musk honeymoon lasts, Orsina added.
With Europe facing political uncertainty and Meloni’s government projecting rare steadiness, Italy is poised to play a critical role in navigating U.S.-Europe relations under Trump’s second term.
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