Trump commits to securing a trade agreement with Europe
"The president noted, 'They want to make one very much.'"
TroibNews 
During a meeting at the White House on Thursday, President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni conveyed a sense of optimism regarding a potential trade agreement between the United States and Europe.
"There will be a trade deal, 100 percent," Trump assured. “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 where Trump publicly showed confidence in the ongoing trade negotiations with Europe, an area he has often criticized, alleging that European nations have taken advantage of the U.S. in trade and have not contributed sufficiently to defense efforts. Up to this point, Trump has focused on discussions with Japan, Korea, and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region, aiming to increase pressure on China.
Meloni, who is the first European leader to visit the White House since Trump instituted a broad tariff regime against the European Union, pointed out that while she could not negotiate on behalf of the entire 27-member bloc, open and honest conversations could lead to a potential agreement. Presently, European goods are still subject to Trump’s 10 percent global tariff on nearly all imports to the United States.
"I'm sure we can make a deal," Meloni stated during the initial moments of their lunch meeting. “I’m here to help with that.”
The Italian Prime Minister, who represents her country’s far-right political faction but has collaborated closely with EU and NATO partners since her tenure began, also extended an invitation to Trump to visit Italy in the future.
Trump praised Meloni, referring to her as “a great prime minister” and “one of the real leaders of the world.”
Despite Meloni coordinating her visit with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, some EU officials expressed concerns that her trip might undermine a cohesive European stance toward the U.S. on trade. Their apprehension that Trump would depict the meeting as proof that world leaders are, in his own words, “kissing his ass” in response to tariff threats turned out to be justified.
“Every nation wants to meet!” Trump wrote on TruthSocial prior to Meloni’s arrival. “Italy today!”
However, a White House official, who requested anonymity while briefing reporters, emphasized that the Italian Prime Minister’s visit had been planned "long before the tariffs came into place," contradicting Trump’s portrayal of the engagement as a reaction to his tariff strategy.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
"There will be a trade deal, 100 percent," Trump assured. “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 where Trump publicly showed confidence in the ongoing trade negotiations with Europe, an area he has often criticized, alleging that European nations have taken advantage of the U.S. in trade and have not contributed sufficiently to defense efforts. Up to this point, Trump has focused on discussions with Japan, Korea, and other countries in the Indo-Pacific region, aiming to increase pressure on China.
Meloni, who is the first European leader to visit the White House since Trump instituted a broad tariff regime against the European Union, pointed out that while she could not negotiate on behalf of the entire 27-member bloc, open and honest conversations could lead to a potential agreement. Presently, European goods are still subject to Trump’s 10 percent global tariff on nearly all imports to the United States.
"I'm sure we can make a deal," Meloni stated during the initial moments of their lunch meeting. “I’m here to help with that.”
The Italian Prime Minister, who represents her country’s far-right political faction but has collaborated closely with EU and NATO partners since her tenure began, also extended an invitation to Trump to visit Italy in the future.
Trump praised Meloni, referring to her as “a great prime minister” and “one of the real leaders of the world.”
Despite Meloni coordinating her visit with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, some EU officials expressed concerns that her trip might undermine a cohesive European stance toward the U.S. on trade. Their apprehension that Trump would depict the meeting as proof that world leaders are, in his own words, “kissing his ass” in response to tariff threats turned out to be justified.
“Every nation wants to meet!” Trump wrote on TruthSocial prior to Meloni’s arrival. “Italy today!”
However, a White House official, who requested anonymity while briefing reporters, emphasized that the Italian Prime Minister’s visit had been planned "long before the tariffs came into place," contradicting Trump’s portrayal of the engagement as a reaction to his tariff strategy.
James del Carmen for TROIB News
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