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President Donald Trump welcomed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to the White House on Thursday, where the two fronted a bilateral meeting by answering a few questions from the press and lunching together, along with members of the president’s cabinet.
“We have a very good relationship together and as countries,” Trump said.
Meloni also expressed her willingness to work with the United States on issues like trade, noting it would be best for the U.S. and Italy to “grow together – that’s why I’m here.”
One reporter as President Trump if Italy and the U.S. could establish a trade deal. “There will be a trade deal, 100 percent,” Trump said. “…We’re going to make a trade deal, but it will be a fair deal.”
Currently, the European Union is dealing with a 25 percent import tariff on things like steel, aluminum, and cars – something President Trump was keen to point out.
“We’re taking in a lot of money, which we’ve never done before,” he said.
When asked about announcements on successfully brokered trade deals with numerous nations affected by tariffs, the president noted that he would reveal such information “at a certain point – we’re in no rush.”
Trump slammed Joe Biden for allowing foreign nations to essentially rip off the United States on trade. “I’m here to save our country,” he remarked.
On his relationship with PM Meloni, Trump emphasized, “I do like her very much, she’s a great prime minister…one of the real leaders of the world and I’m very proud to be with her.”
Meloni expressed confidence that the two leaders could work together to achieve a trade deal that would work out for each nation. “I’m sure we can make a deal…I think the best way is we simply speak frankly about the needs that every one of us has…I’m sure that together, we are stronger,” she said.