ROME – A social media post by US President Donald Trump has triggered political controversy in Italy, after he reshared a video suggesting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is pursuing a direct trade agreement with Washington and preparing to scale back support for Ukraine.
The video, produced by White House Deputy Assistant Lynne Patton, was shared on social media with the caption: “Giorgia Meloni challenges the EU and seeks a direct trade deal with Trump. Brilliant move.”
It implied that Italy could independently negotiate tariff exemptions, namely on food exports.
However, the idea is not new. Italian Agriculture Minister Francesco Lollobrigida mentioned a plan a few months ago to make Italian bresaola using US beef and ship it back to America in order to avoid US tariffs. A plan later disavowed that was not in line with EU trade rules.
The claim also comes as Rome and Brussels continue talks with Washington over a proposed 107% US duty on Italian pasta following an antidumping investigation.
The post provoked strong reactions from opposition parties.
Democratic Party MP Piero De Luca called the claims “shocking” and demanded an “immediate denial” from the government.
Other opposition figures accused Meloni of allowing Trump to “dictate Italy’s foreign policy,” warning that any unilateral move on trade would “undermine European unity.”
The Italian government firmly rejected the allegations, stressing that international trade negotiations are an exclusive EU competence. Government sources clarified that Italy is only engaged in discussions with the US regarding antidumping duties against certain Italian pasta producers – talks described as “complementary to, not a substitute for, EU negotiations.”
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also sought to calm tensions, stating that Italy “continues to work in perfect coordination with the EU and Commissioner Šefčovič” on trade matters.
