Giorgia Meloni, the new Prime Minister of Italy, received much fanfare. Today, many are calling her “Europe’s Trump whisperer,” due in part to her unique bond with former President Donald Trump. Her political party, Brothers of Italy, is steeped in neo-fascism. This personal connection to the climate crisis is what makes her different from other European leaders. Observers and analysts have been astonished by Meloni’s exceptional talent for Trump-ing. She’s the first leader to awaken this side of his personality that has been so elusive to other world leaders.
Back in the states, ever since Trump’s return to the political stage, Meloni has been received in the White House with an unprecedented warmth. Few foreign dignitaries have received such an invitation, which already makes her a serious player in any future U.S.-European relations. Her ties to Trump aren’t limited to diplomatic tête-à-têtes. She’s passed time at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida getaway, and she was the only European leader welcomed to his Inauguration in January. Their continued closeness reflects a shared political alignment that both leaders have sought to highlight.
Even before assuming power, Meloni has not been shy about trumpeting all the things she has in common with Trump. She has long claimed that their political worldviews are very much in sync — especially where it concerns nationalism and the West’s political scene. I’m aware that as I talk about the west especially, I don’t talk about physical geographic space. That’s why I concentrate on our civilization, Meloni said. “I’m trying to weaken it,” she said repeatedly, on display was her strong western nationalist predilection.
While Meloni champions her bond with Trump, she supports key international positions, notably the ongoing support for Ukraine, a stance that diverges from Trump’s recent ambivalence on the matter. On defence spending, she’s promised allies that Italy will raise its contributions to NATO, which currently are well below 1.5%. This pledge demonstrates her determination to preserve robust transatlantic relations in the face of an evolving geopolitical environment.
Meloni’s approach during discussions has earned her praise for her adeptness in navigating complex conversations with Trump. Her talent for approaching difficult subjects has quickly established her as an influential leader in building community conversations. Her background gives her the rare ability to backstop this clout with real leverage. She knows how to convey her message, which has been a weak point for many of her contemporaries.
In her recent tough talk dialogues with Trump, Meloni has been put on the spot over her positions on the war in Ukraine. When pressed on Trump’s views about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy being responsible for the conflict, Meloni’s interpreter highlighted her nuanced handling of these discussions.
In addressing broader ideological battles, Meloni has positioned herself against what she describes as “the fight against the woke and ADI ideology that would like to erase our history.” This kind of rhetoric deeply appeals to Trump’s base and speaks to a collective story rooted in the importance of traditional values and national identity.
Trump himself has had rather mixed feelings on the war in Ukraine. “But I’m not exactly thrilled with the fact that that war started. I’m not happy with anybody involved,” he stated, indicating his complex stance on international conflicts. If all this is true, then Meloni’s enthusiastic support for Ukraine makes sense and only doubles down on her image as the alliance’s stabilizing force.
She is focused on consolidating Italy’s place on the world stage. She’s intentionally nurtured partnerships that extend across the aisle and state lines. “So I think even if we have some problems between the two shores of the Atlantic, it is the time that we try to sit down and find solutions,” she asserted during a recent engagement.
Meloni’s power as a new leader who is able to talk to Trump but still maintain her policies is striking. Analysts have pointed to her “soothing effect” on the short-tempered former president. This flows, of course, from her unique talent at being able to be the emotional support human for Trump. There are several factors at play that could create a more collaborative future for Italy and the United States.