On Friday, United States Vice President JD Vance engaged in a second day of discussions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, focusing on tariffs. The White House hinted at the potential for a broader summit between the US and Europe during President Donald Trump’s upcoming visit to the continent.
Meloni greeted Vance at the courtyard of the Chigi Palace, jokingly expressing that she had missed him. The pair had previously met the day before in the Oval Office, where President Trump praised Meloni for her efforts to control migration but remained firm on tariff plans, which have heightened tensions with the European Union and sparked recession fears.
A joint statement from the White House and Meloni’s office on Friday confirmed that President Trump would visit Italy “in the near future.” The statement also mentioned the possibility of organizing a US-Europe meeting during Trump’s visit.
Meloni has positioned herself as a bridge between the Trump administration and Europe. She was the only EU leader present at Trump’s inauguration, aligning ideologically with him on issues such as migration reduction and the promotion of traditional values. However, differences have arisen, particularly over Meloni’s strong support for Ukraine and Trump’s tariff threats, which pressure her to advocate for the EU’s commercial interests.
Meloni expressed hope that the second day of talks would strengthen a lasting friendship. “We believe Italy can be an extremely important partner in Europe and the Mediterranean for the United States of America,” she stated, emphasizing the privileged relationship between the two nations.
Market panic over bond yields led Trump to temporarily pause his 20% import tax on the EU for 90 days, opting instead for a basic 10% charge. Despite this, Trump, alongside Meloni, expressed no urgency in reaching trade agreements.
Vance reaffirmed the friendship between the US and Italy, informing Meloni of “interesting” developments in negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. He noted that significant trade negotiations would continue.
In addition to the discussions, Vice President Vance attended Good Friday services at St. Peter’s Basilica with his family and planned to meet with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin over the weekend. No meeting with Pope Francis was announced, as the Pope has scaled back his schedule while recovering from serious pneumonia.
Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion of Christ, was observed at the Vatican with a service in St. Peter’s Basilica, mainly conducted in Latin, and a torch-lit procession at the Colosseum. Historically, Vance and Pope Francis have clashed over migration issues and the Trump administration’s mass deportation plans. In February, prior to his hospitalization, Pope Francis criticized these plans, warning they would strip migrants of their inherent dignity. Despite acknowledging the Pope’s criticism, Vance maintained his stance on the policies.
