ROME (Reuters) – Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni will attend U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday, officials from her office said on Friday, in a trip that should further strengthen her ties with the U.S. leader.
Meloni paid a flying visit to Trump earlier this month at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, winning praise from the incoming president, who called her “a fantastic woman.”
Trump has broken with precedent and invited several foreign leaders to the inauguration ceremony. Historically, they have not attended due to security concerns and have sent diplomats in their stead.
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In addition to Meloni, Argentina’s president, Javier Milei, another strong Trump supporter, has said he will attend, according to reports. However, another Trump backer, Hungary’s Viktor Orban, will not be attending, his spokesman said this week.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will also not be attending, despite an invitation, but is sending an envoy.
Meloni’s supporters hope the conservative Italian leader will have privileged access to Trump over the next four years and become a bridge between Washington and Europe.
(Reporting by Giuseppe Fonte and Crispian Balmer; Editing by Leslie Adler)
