Vance meets with PM Meloni to bolster U.S.-Italy relationship before Milan opening ceremonies

Vice President J.D. Vance sat down with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday to discuss economic cooperation and “shared values” ahead of the opening ceremony for the Milan Cortina Games.

Mr. Vance met with the Italian leader at the Prefettura di Milano, a former palace that is now a municipal building, as he led the U.S. delegation to the Olympics. Secretary of State Marco Rubio also attended the sitdown.

“It’s so good to see you and your team, and great to be back in your beautiful country,” Mr. Vance told Ms. Meloni. “We love Italy. We love the Italian people. And as you said, we have a lot of great relationships. We have a lot of great economic connections and partnerships.”

Ms. Meloni said they last met in Rome, when the vice president was there to see Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff.

“Today we meet again for the Olympic Games,” she said. “It’s two events that tell about values that keep together Italy and the U.S., Europe and the U.S., Western civilization. It’s mainly the reason why we like to work together.”

Ms. Meloni assumed office in 2022 as a right-wing nationalist. She has been adept at maintaining relationships with different U.S. administrations.

She had an unexpectedly warm relationship with then-President Biden, particularly since she was a leading champion for Ukraine against the Russian invasion.

Ms. Meloni and the Trump administration speak a common political language in terms of preserving Western values and stemming unchecked migration. However, she has had to walk a tightrope in dealing with Mr. Trump on issues such as trade and tariffs.

“I’m happy to have you here to have the occasion to talk about our wonderful bilateral relation — but also about many international topics,” Ms. Meloni told Mr. Vance.

The leaders and their delegations shared a lunch after the meeting.

The Winter Games are being hosted in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, a mountain resort town 250 miles away.

Mr. Vance, his wife Usha, and their children watched mixed ice dance early Friday. Later, they will watch the opening ceremony at Milan’s San Siro stadium.

“You guys have done such a good job,” Mr. Vance told Ms. Meloni. “So in the spirit of the Olympics friendship, competition — competition based on rules — and just coming together around shared values, we’re very, very thrilled to be here, and we’ll have a great conversation about number of topics.”