Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s Prime Minister met with Marco Rubio on Friday at a time of an uncommon tension between her government and President Donald Trump’s administration, fueled mostly by the war with Iran.
By Catholics for Catholics
The U.S. Secretary of State met with Italy’s Prime Minister with the hopes of easing frictions with formerly one of America’s staunchest supporters.
Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s Prime Minister met with Marco Rubio on Friday at a time of an uncommon tension between her government and President Donald Trump’s administration, fueled mostly by the war with Iran, according to a story by Newsmax.
On Friday, Rubio was in Italy for a two-day trip with the goal of improving bonds with Pope Leo after a series of attacks by President Donald Trump on the Supreme Pontiff, while also addressing Washington’s frustration over Italy’s rejection to support the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Previously, Meloni had been one of Trump’s solidest supporters in Europe, nurturing close ties with him and presenting herself as a natural link between Washington and other EU states that had no natural political affinity with the Republican U.S. leader.
But that alliance has come under increasing strain in recent months, as the war in Iran has compelled her to evaluate loyalty to the United States against Italian public animosity to the war and the growing economic cost of the conflict.
Before heading to meet Meloni, Rubio met with Italy”s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who said the talks had been positive.
“I am convinced that Europe needs America, Italy needs America, but the United States also needs Europe and Italy,” Tajani told reporters.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio questioned why allies, including Italy, were not backing Washington's efforts to confront Iran and re-open the Strait of Hormuz. Rubio’s comments came after a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome https://t.co/PRt07zkbHf pic.twitter.com/McHxHX1LJf
— Reuters (@Reuters) May 9, 2026
The 1-1/2-hour meeting between Meloni and Rubio was supposedly mostly a success, but details were not provided about how positive it was. They were expected to discuss the situation in the Gulf, as well as Russia’s war on Ukraine, U.S. tariffs on European goods and the outlook for Cuba, which Washington is seeking to isolate both diplomatically and economically.
Rubio’s meetings at the Vatican were also closely studied by Italian observers and the press. Trump’s recent attacks on Pope Leo crossed a sensitive line in overwhelmingly Catholic Italy and prompted Meloni to call them “unacceptable.”
Her criticism in turn drew a sharp rebuke from Trump, who said she lacked courage and had let Washington down. He subsequently threatened to withdraw U.S. troops from Italy.
Meloni said on Monday she would not support such a move, but acknowledged that the decision “doesn’t depend on me.”
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