Trump, Italy's Meloni Discuss Trade Tariffs Amid EU Tensions

President Donald Trump is set to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House to discuss escalating tariff tensions between the U.S. and the European Union. Meloni, seen as ideologically aligned with Trump, is the first European leader to meet him since his announcement of new tariffs on EU imports, which currently stand at 10% for most goods and 25% on steel and aluminum, with a 20% rate looming if no deal is reached after a 90-day pause. The EU has paused its own retaliatory tariffs in hopes that Meloni might help broker a compromise, given her rapport with Trump and her role as a potential mediator. Both leaders face pressure from their domestic constituencies—Meloni to protect Italy’s export-driven economy and Trump to address what he calls unfair trade imbalances. European officials are closely watching the meeting, as Meloni is seen as a possible 'Trump whisperer' who could influence negotiations in favor of the bloc. The outcome of this meeting could prove pivotal in determining the future of transatlantic trade relations.