Meloni Defends Friendship With Elon Musk

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni defended her friendship with billionaire Elon Musk during a parliamentary session ahead of an EU summit, asserting that she would not be influenced by his economic interests. Meloni highlighted that while she can maintain a personal relationship with Musk, she also leads the first Italian government to enact laws regulating private space activities. Her government recently approved a framework allowing foreign space companies, including Musk's SpaceX, to operate in Italy, potentially generating €7.3 billion in investments by 2026. She criticized past Italian leaders for feeling pressured to follow foreign leaders due to personal relationships. Meloni's interactions with Musk, which have drawn media attention, include a viral photo that sparked rumors of a romantic link, which Musk has denied. This underscores her commitment to balancing personal connections with political responsibilities.