JD Vance to visit Italy as Meloni calls tariffs ‘mistaken’

5 comments

1. ***From The Times:***

   JD Vance, the US vice-president, will visit Italy just before Easter, giving the Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni a chance to argue for lower tariffs and rebuild her role as a bridge between the US and Europe.

   The visit was confirmed by Antonio Tajani, the Italian foreign minister, who said it was “obvious” that tariffs would be on the agenda.

   An Italian government source told The Times the date of Vance’s trip was not yet confirmed, although Italian media has reported April 18-20 as likely, with a meeting with Meloni on April 19 — evidence of the Italian leader’s close ties to the Trump administration.

   Meloni, the only EU leader to attend President Trump’s inauguration, has forged a friendship with Elon Musk and has said she shares Vance’s argument that Europe has lost its democratic mission due to its habit of barring hard-right politicians from office.

   But she was also quick to denounce Trump’s tariff announcement on Wednesday, calling the 20% imposed on the EU as “mistaken and of no benefit to either side”

2. Looking for allies in the war against Democracy. This will be Melonis moment to decide which side she is on.

3. “Mistaken” is putting it politely.

4. Poor Giorgia, running out of sides to take. You must respect how quintessentially Italian is her approach.

5. Fascist of a feather flock together

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