Trump softens stance on EU after Giorgia Meloni meet: Trade deal 100% possible
US President Donald Trump expressed confidence that a trade deal with the European Union is “100 per cent” possible following a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni at the White House on Thursday. Trump’s bold declaration came amid ongoing tensions over trade tariffs, including a 20 per cent tariff he initially imposed on EU imports and later paused for 90 days.
Despite his hardline rhetoric, Trump signalled a willingness to compromise. “There will be a trade deal, 100%,” he insisted. “But it will be a fair deal.”
He also suggested that multiple trade agreements with other countries could follow soon, saying, “Everybody wants to make a deal. And if they don’t want to make a deal, we’ll make the deal for them.”
In remarks during their Oval Office meeting, Trump warmly welcomed Meloni and praised her leadership. “I do like her very much,” he said, calling her “one of the real leaders of the world”.
He added, “We have a good relationship-together and as countries.” The Italian prime minister echoed the sentiment, saying she was “sure” the two sides could reach an agreement and emphasising her broader vision: “The goal for me is to make the West great again, and I think we can do it together.”
Though she publicly condemned Trump’s tariff decision-calling it “absolutely wrong” – Meloni has been careful to preserve ties with Washington. “If I didn’t consider it a reliable partner, I wouldn’t be here,” she said, with her stance reflecting a balancing act: defending European interests while seeking common ground with the United States.
The 20 per cent EU tariff, which Trump has temporarily suspended until July, is part of a broader strategy targeting foreign imports. He has also imposed a baseline 10 per cent tariff on nearly all goods entering the US. In justifying these measures, Trump has accused the EU of exploiting trade arrangements, saying the bloc was “formed to screw the United States”.
