Trump to meet with Italian Prime Minister Meloni to discuss tariffs, trade

President Donald Trump is set to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Thursday at the White House to discuss trade and tariffs.

Meloni is the first European leader to meet with Trump since he announced tariffs on European imports, according to NBC News.

She is also among the most conservative, or right-wing, leaders in Europe. And her close alliance with Trump is being perceived as perhaps the best opportunity for European Union member nations to strike a trade-tariff deal with Trump. 

Trump announced the implementation of tariffs on multiple countries, including a 20% tariff on goods from the European Union. However, he put a 90-day pause on the tariffs as many countries have reached out to discuss trade deals. 

"We know this is a difficult time," Meloni said before her trip, according to the BBC. "We will do our best – I am aware of what I represent and of what I am defending."

On Wednesday, Trump met with leaders from Japan to discuss a trade deal and said it was productive.