Italy’s Engagement with Trump and Musk: What Does It Mean for the EU?

Brussels (Eurotoday) – President Trump’s tariff threats and Musk’s global influence are worrying the EU, but Giorgia Meloni’s Italy might have a better shot with the new U.S. presidency.

Giorgia Meloni is one of the most solid leaders in Europe. As she approaches her midterm, her approval rates are above 40%, which is more than double that of France leader Macron and German Chancellor Scholz. She was also the only European leader invited to Trump’s inauguration, sitting next to Argentine President Javier Milei.

The U.S. and Italian leaderships share common views on certain topics. They both advocate for stricter national immigration policies, fewer green governmental initiatives, and “dangerous gender ideology,” they say referring to LGBTIQ+ people’s rights, away from children.

Meloni also agrees with Trump’s demand to NATO members to invest more in military defense. The new US President is asking all partners to invest 5% of their GDP. As of 2024, some countries – Italy included – blank”>don’t even meet the 2% guideline yet.

NATO members expenditure on defence in GDP (%). Source of data and graphic: NATO.

Showing an alignment with Trump is also Matteo Salvini, Vice President of the Italian Council of Ministries and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport. On January 23, his party filed a proposal to drop Italy out of the World Health Organization “just like the United States did.”

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni receiving the Global Citizens Awards by the Atlantic Council from Elon Musk in New York, on September 23, 2024. Source: Italian Government.

Another link between the new U.S. administration and Italy is Elon Musk. In the past few years, Musk’s political views have drastically shifted right, and he was heavily involved in Trump’s latest presidential campaign. For now, the owner of X (formerly Twitter), Tesla and SpaceX CEO and co-head of the new Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) of the United States, seems to have Meloni in his good graces.

“Giorgia Meloni is someone that I admire, who has done an incredible job as the Prime Minister of Italy. She is authentic, honest and truthful,” said Musk at the 2024 Global Citizens Awards.

After Trump’s win, Meloni called Musk “added value, someone who should and could be a counterpart to confront with.”

A deal with SpaceX could undermine the EU

On January 5, 2025, Bloomberg blank”>uncovered how advanced the talks are between Italy and Musk’s company SpaceX on a deal to provide telecommunications to the Italian government. According to Bloomberg’s anonymous sources, it already has Italian Intelligence Services and Defense Ministry’s approval.

Musk on X

Comments

2 responses to “Italy’s Engagement with Trump and Musk: What Does It Mean for the EU?”

  1. ManManMan Avatar

    Oh, splendid! Just what we need – an Italian Prime Minister cozying up to Trump and Musk while the rest of us are still trying to figure out how to fix the coffee machine in the office. ☕️🤦‍♂️ At this rate, I half expect an announcement about a gondola service to Mars next! 🚀

  2. Scooby Did Avatar
    Scooby Did

    Oh, splendid! Just what we needed—Italy cozying up to the kings of tariff threats and Twitter tantrums. Honestly, who wouldn’t want a little more chaos sprinkled into European diplomacy? 🇮🇹🤦‍♂️

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