Washington, D.C. – Former President Donald Trump, during a key meeting at the White House with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, declared strong optimism about securing a Trump-Europe trade deal 2025.
His comments marked a significant departure from past criticisms of Europe’s trade stance and came as tensions simmered over existing tariffs on European goods.
“There will be a trade deal, 100 percent,” Trump stated. “Of course, there will be a trade deal. They want to make one very much, and we are going to make a trade deal, I fully expect it, but it will be a fair deal.”
This was the first instance of Trump publicly showing confidence in trade talks with Europe, a region he has often accused of exploiting the United States in both economic and defence matters.
Previously, his administration had largely concentrated on forging deals with Japan, South Korea, and other Indo-Pacific allies to counterbalance China’s influence.
Giorgia Meloni became the first European leader to meet with Trump at the White House since the implementation—and temporary suspension—of wide-ranging tariffs on EU exports. Although she acknowledged her inability to formally negotiate on behalf of the European Union, Meloni expressed readiness to facilitate discussions.
“I’m sure we can make a deal,” she said in front of reporters at the start of their working lunch. “I’m here to help with that.”
BREAKING: Giorgia Meloni defies the EU and arrives in the US to negotiate a trade deal on Italy’s terms
The EU is being dismantled. pic.twitter.com/MJzJk1TLXF
— Inevitable West (@Inevitablewest) April 17, 2025
European products are still subject to a 10 percent global tariff imposed under Trump’s trade framework.
Despite leading a right-wing government in Italy, Meloni has maintained cooperation with both the European Union and NATO, positioning herself as a bridge between American and European interests. She also extended a personal invitation to Trump to visit Italy in the future.
During the meeting, Trump was generous in his praise, calling Meloni: “A great prime minister” and “one of the real leaders of the world.”
Meloni had held discussions with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen ahead of her Washington trip to ensure alignment with EU positions.
Some EU officials remain cautious about bilateral overtures, especially as von der Leyen is expected to further reinforce a united EU stance at the upcoming UK-EU energy cooperation summit in London, where energy security and transatlantic collaboration will take centre stage.
Nonetheless, her visit raised concerns among EU officials about maintaining a unified front in future trade talks with the United States. Their worries intensified after Trump, via his TruthSocial platform, portrayed Meloni’s visit as a validation of his tough trade tactics.
“Every nation wants to meet!” he boasted. “Italy today!” However, a White House official, speaking anonymously to the press, pushed back against this interpretation, stating the visit had been planned “long before the tariffs came into place,” thereby challenging Trump’s framing of the meeting as a response to his renewed trade posturing.
