April 17, 2025

President Donald Trump and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni both expressed optimism during a White House meeting on Thursday about an eventual trade deal between the United States and Europe.

“There will be a trade deal, 100 percent,” Trump promised. “Of course there will be a trade deal. They want to make one very much, and we are going to make a trade deal, I fully expect it, but it will be a fair deal.”

It marked the first time Trump publicly expressed confidence about trade negotiations with Europe, which he has frequently disparaged and accused of ripping off the U.S. on trade and not pulling its weight on defense. Thus far, he has prioritized talks with Japan, Korea and other Indo-Pacific nations in hopes of increasing pressure on China.

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