‘Make the West Great Again’: tariff, immigration and a common conservative vision Trump and Meloni Bonds

US President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hit an unusually excited note on Friday as they met at the White House, indicating hope for a new US-EU business deal and highlighting a growing ideological alignment between the two Conservative leader,
“A business deal will be, 100 percent,” Trump confidently announced, sitting near Meloni during his attraction in Washington. The far-flung Italian leader resonated optimism: “I am sure we can reach a deal.”
Meloni, who became the first European leader to meet Trump because he implemented 20% Tariff on European Union exports Earlier this year, now has now been suspended for 90 days, has picked itself up as a major intermediary between the US and Europe. “Even if we have some problems between the two coasts of the Atlantic, this is the time when we try to sit and find solutions,” he said.
During his journey, Meloni emphasized his shared world vision – from curbing immigration to “Vok” ideology. “The goal for me is to make the West the great again, and I think we can do it together,” he said, the co-integral of Trump’s signature slogan.
Trump, who hosted him for a working lunch and oval office meeting, praised Meloni as “luxurious” and said that he soon gave an invitation to visit Rome – a proposal that he is considering, possibly in combination with a wider European Union meeting.
Hard talk on Europe and China
While the atmosphere was friendly, Trump returned to familiar criticisms. He accused the European Union of trying to “screw” the US on trade and said that there is a need to block to “get smart” on immigration and increase defense spending in NATO.
Trump warned, “Everyone wants to make a deal and if they do not want to make a deal, we will make a deal for them,” Trump warned, he said that he was “no crowd.”
He also claimed that China had “reached out” about resolving its business war, despite the imposition of 145% tariff after tariff on 2 April “Liberation Day”. “I think we’re going to do a very good deal with China,” he said.
Ukraine War illumates a rift
The Russian-Ukraine war remained a point of friction between the two. Meloni has been a firm supporter of Ukraine and recently called Russia’s Palm Sunday Strike on Sumi called “terrible and vile”. Meanwhile, Trump has moved to a more sympathetic trend on Moscow and publicly attacked Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelancesi.
Trump said with Meloni next to him, “I don’t blame Zelansky, but I am not thrilled with the fact that the war began.” “I am not a very big fan of Ukrainian.”
European Union unity at risk?
Meloni’s outreach has raised eyebrows in Brussels and European capitals. While the European Commission insisted that the block alone could negotiate trade deals, it welcomed the Italian PM’s initiative as “coordinated with Brussels”.
Nevertheless, some European leaders are not confident. “If we begin bilateral discussion, it would evidently break the current dynamic,” the French Industry Minister Mark Ferrysi warned.
According to Italian media, one of the objectives of Meloni’s visit was to pave the way for a meeting between Trump and European Commission Chairman Ursula von Der Leyen.
After wrapping his American visit, Meloni hopes back to Rome on Friday to host US vice -president JD Vance. But his decision to personally engage Trump comes in a high-day moment. The tariff he is threatening can barely kill Italy – 10% of his exports go to the US.
So far, the two leaders are betting on their chemistry. As Meloni says, “I know about what I represent and I know what I am defending.”